Fostering soft skills through academic extracurricular activities: A study of students at the National 147 College of Education Ho Chi Minh City

Abstract

In modern education, soft skills are essential competencies that complement professional knowledge and expertise. This study surveyed 335 Early Childhood Education students at the National College of Education Ho Chi Minh City to examine the role of academic extracurricular activities in developing soft skills. The findings indicate that while students possess high awareness of soft skills, their proficiency remains moderate. There is strong demand for training in core skills, and although students express relative satisfaction with current extracurricular activities, they suggest improvements in content and delivery methods. The results also show a preference for direct, practice- based formats such as workshops and specialized classes, along with expectations for transparent evaluation and two-way feedback. The paper proposes recommendations for institutions, instructors, and students to enhance academic extracurricular activities as an effective approach to soft skill development.