The definition of university students` soft skills: a modern Chinese perspective

Abstract

This article offers an in-depth study of the soft skills landscape among university students, particularly focusing on the Chinese context. It argues that understanding soft skills development in China can offer valuable lessons for educators and policymakers globally, as the emphasis on holistic education in China promotes both traditional values and modern educational practices. The paper presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of the European and Chinese approaches to defining soft skills among university students and lists the overarching attributes of soft skills among university students as perceived by Chinese scholars and educators. Moreover, the article reveals both converging and diverging points within the paradigms of soft skills between European and Chinese approaches and offers an understanding of how cultural and educational contexts influence the perception and development of these essential skills among university students.