Abstract—In an era of rapid technological advancements and shifting employment landscapes, soft skills have become increasingly prominent. This article explores undergraduate students’ perceptions of these vital soft skills that are critical components to their preparedness for the workforce and ongoing personal growth. Drawing from a case study conducted at Al Akhawayne University in Morocco, a quantitative survey was administered among 200 students across diverse disciplines. The aim was to investigate students’ self-assessed proficiency in critical soft skills such as communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership. The analysis revealed insights into a broad awareness among students of the significance of soft skills for their prospective careers. Students have underscored the role of engaging in extracurricular activities, like clubs and volunteer work, as critical platforms for practicing and boosting these skills. While most students perceived themselves to have acquired adequate soft skills, areas for improvement were identified, particularly within the scope of problem-solving and lifelong learning skills.
 

Keywords—soft skills, undergraduate students, perceptions, preparedness, Al Akhawayne University, Morocco

Cite: Hayat Naciri, "Students’ Perceptions: The Impact of Soft Skills on Bridging Education to Career Success," International Journal of Learning and Teaching, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 67-71, 2025.

Copyright © 2025 by the authors. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).