Toward Sustainable Higher Education: Integrating Soft Skill Development into Business School Curriculum in Indonesia

Abstract

Purpose: Developing soft skills is a crucial component of the business school curriculum. Business schools are better positioned to generate well-rounded and competitive graduates who can better negotiate the intricacies of the business world if they include the development of soft skills in their curriculum. This study is aimed at exploring this topic. Theoretical Reference: This study supports the concept of integrative curriculum between hard-skill and soft-skill implementation in higher education. This qualitative study will analyze the different points of view between three approaches of soft-skill curriculum implementation theory in the literature: stand-alone, embedded, and combination. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study applies a case study approach that elaborates on applying a soft-skill curriculum in the first business school in Indonesia. Data were collected through focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, and in-person observation. Results and Conclusion: The result shows that the implementation of soft skill development in this business school uses a stand-alone approach rather than an embedded method. Those stand-alone soft-skill subjects are divided into four soft-skill courses: Self Development Course, Team Development Course, Community Development Course, and Internship Program. This curriculum has been implemented for years and is still valuable and beneficial to the students in the current context. This method has some beneficial practical implementations as well as challenges. Implications of Research: This paper proposes a novel approach to implementing the ‘stand-alone’ soft-skill curriculum in higher education. Based on the qualitative analysis of this case study, the four courses approach can also be implemented in other higher institutions in different educational contexts. Originality/Value: The originality of this paper is the new approach to the soft-skill curriculum, which still needs to be elaborated in the previous literature. The finding of this study could enhance the implementation strategy of soft-skill curricula in business schools and other higher education institutions.