Soft Skills and the "Knowledge Economy" - The Human Capital Factor

Higher Education and TVET institutions are increasingly being challenged to produce graduates who will be able to adapt to work situations that are increasingly becoming flexible and complex as their needs change. Human Capital theorists have claimed that the theory of human capital resonates well with the dynamic nature of the new ¿knowledge economy¿. They perceive skills as ¿capital¿ that humans require to be successful in work settings. Many nation states have adopted measures to improve the vocational qualities of their population through the implementation of vocational education and training courses. Complementing this vocational skills are the soft skills which would instill attributes into students which would see them better prepared for their work environment. It thus comes as no surprise that industry and governments have increasingly given attention to soft skills and its potential to increase production in multiple spheres of society. This book reflects on the value of a structured life skills programme and its worth to industry and society in general.