Implementation of cooperative-based learning to enhance soft skills among students of technical and vocational institutions

Abstract

Globally, the current market requires graduates to be more workplace competent, hence requiring the necessary soft skill. The widespread inadequacies in employability skills have been confirmed to be one of the major causes of unemployment. Consequently, educational institutions should make efforts toward the development of employable students through eminence teaching and learning processes. A research was conducted out to explore the impact of Cooperative-Based Learning (CBL) on soft or generic skills integration among students at technical colleges based on technical teachers' experiences. Since the sample size for the study is relatively small, there was uncertainty about the normal distribution of data. Fortunately, Smart PLS is suitable for data that are non-normally distributed and used simultaneously to check the dimension procedure, structural equation models, and the validity of the convergent and discriminating of the calculation. The research shown each of the CBL variables has significant positive association with soft skills demonstrated by the students at the technical higher institutions. Based on the results of the study, it is recommended that sufficient facilities be provided for effective implementation of CBL activities to improve students' soft skills by the authorities.