The Impact of Soft Skills on the Educational Performance of PhD Students: Mohammed First University as a Case Stud

Abstract

Soft skills are considered as major assets that are developed and acquired by students in their personal and professional career. Indeed, communication skills, teamwork, creative thinking, problem-solving, flexibility and willingness to learn, and responsibility are the common skills that have been discussed by researchers and academics. In fact, the use of these skills by students plays a crucial role in improving their educational performance as well as preparing them for a successful professional career. In light of this, the present study aims at highlighting these soft skills with a focus on their impact on graduate students’ educational performance, particularly doctoral students affiliated to Mohammed I university. The quantitative research design for the present study is based on an online questionnaire in order to examine the effect of soft skills on doctoral tudents’ educational and professional performances. The findings of this study show that doctoral students affiliated to Mohammed I University are familiar with the skills set of communication, flexibility and willingness to learn, and responsibility; however, teamwork, creative thinking, and problem-solving are not acquired properly in their doctoral journey. The study further implies that these skills are complementary, i.e., each skill complements the other, and they all lead to a successful educational journey of doctoral students. However, in case these skills are not implemented, doctoral students will face problems in their academic and professional careers.