The Effect of Soft Skills Learning on the Professional Insertion Competence of University Graduates: a Quantitative Study at Cadi Ayyad University

Abstract

Abstract: The objective of this quantitative study is to evaluate the impact of soft skills learning on the employability of university students, using the Kirkpatrick model. The study was conducted with a sample of 200 master's and specialized master's students at Cadi Ayyad University. The results showed that 67% of the students surveyed considered the pedagogical means of the UCA Soft Skills program to be relevant, and 43.5% even described the program as "very important" in improving their job search process. However, the study also revealed that the skills acquired are not valued by students and do not effectively contribute to changes in students' practices in their search for internships or jobs during their studies. These findings highlight the importance of integrating cross-curricular skills instruction into academic programs early in the academic career to foster students' personal and professional development. Keywords: Evaluation, Soft Skills, University, Professional Insertion