This study investigates the critical skills required for new entrants to succeed in today’s workforce, focusing on both soft and hard skills. Through a comprehensive systematic review of existing literature using the PRISMA method, we analyzed 12 selected journals from an initial pool of 870, sourced from major databases such as Scopus, Science Direct, and Emerald Insight. Our research uncovers four key insights. First, we provide a clear and precise definition of employability skills, establishing the foundation for what competencies are essential for workforce readiness. Second, our analysis identifies a distinct separation between soft and hard skills, with soft skills such as communication, problem-solving, teamwork, ethics, and leadership being universally critical across all industries. Third, while soft skills have broad applicability, hard skills are highly specialized, varying significantly depending on industry and job role. To simplify their understanding and application, we categorized these hard skills into specific groups. Finally, the study highlights the urgent need for further empirical research to validate these findings in real-world settings, as the current conclusions are drawn solely from literature. This potential gap between academic preparation and industry expectations underscores the necessity for ongoing collaboration between educational institutions and employers, which will be a primary focus of our future research.

The development of critical thinking (CT) enhances academic and professional opportunities. A review of literature reveals the use of fragmented analysis techniques, such as descriptive and correlational methods, among others, which hinder a deeper understanding of CT levels. This research aims to develop a methodology for analyzing Critical Thinking test scores, integrating five phases: exploratory, item analysis, scoring, gap analysis, and correlational. Using a quantitative approach, CT skills were analyzed with the Halpern Critical Thinking Assessment, which includes both open- and closed-ended questions to measure five skills: Verbal Reasoning (VR), Argument Analysis (AA), Hypothesis Testing (HT), Probability Use (PU), and Problem Solving (PS). The sample consisted of 214 students aged 18 and older. The item analysis phase categorized the items into quadrants: satisfactory, for review, or for elimination, based on difficulty and discrimination indices. The gap analysis revealed that Verbal Reasoning and open-ended formats were less satisfactory. The correlational phase, using heat maps, showed a stronger association between Verbal Reasoning and Probability Use. The methodological contributions include a variety of strategies that provide recommended procedures for analyzing tests or questionnaires in general. In today’s digital age, the development of critical thinking is not only a desirable skill but an essential necessity for the higher education system.

This study explored how facilitation skills—defined as instructional techniques that accurately convey core messages in a trusting relationship and encourage self-directed learning participation among adult learners—affect the effectiveness of learning. The research focused on adult learners enrolled in lifelong education programs at seven universities, including general and vocational colleges in Busan. It aimed to examine the relationships between instructors’ facilitation skills, learner engagement, and learning outcomes, as well as the mediating effect of engagement on these relationships. A total of 213 valid survey responses were analyzed from an initial 215 responses, excluding 2 unsuitable entries. The findings are summarized as follows. First, facilitation skills were found to partially influence learner engagement. Second, learner engagement was shown to affect learning outcomes. Third, facilitation skills were found to have a partial effect on learning outcomes. Fourth, learner engagement partially mediated the relationship between facilitation skills and learning outcomes. Based on these results, this study is expected to contribute to a deeper understanding of the relationship between facilitation skills and learning outcomes in adult learners, providing practical guidelines for enhancing effectiveness in various educational contexts.

Quality human resources will be formed if education focuses on improving students’ skills. Of course, the foundation of education must be quality. Qualified human resources will later be responsible for making Indonesia a good country in all fields. This study aims to examine the effect of applying the REACT learning model (Relating, Experiencing, Applying, Cooperating, Transferring) on learning outcomes and critical thinking skills of students of SMAN 9 KENDARI. Quantitative research method with experimental research type. The research design used was post experimental control design. The research location was at SMAN 9 KENDARI. The instruments used include learning outcomes test and critical thinking skills test. The data obtained were explained using statistical tests to see the differences between the experimental group and the control group in chemistry subjects. The results showed that the application of REACT model significantly improved students’ learning outcomes and critical thinking skills compared to conventional learning methods in chemistry subjects. The findings indicated that the REACT model was effective in improving the quality of learning and developing critical thinking skills of students of SMAN 9 KENDARI, especially in chemistry learning.

This paper presents a practical approach to empowering software entrepreneurship in Saudi Arabia through a unique course offered by the Software Engineering department at Prince Sultan University. The course, SE495 Emergent Topics in Software Engineering: Software Entrepreneurship, combines software engineering and entrepreneurship to equip students with the necessary skills to develop innovative software solutions that solve real-world problems. The course covers a range of topics, including platform development, market research, and pitching to investors, and features guest speakers from the industry. By the end of the course, students will have gained a deep understanding of the software development process and its intersection with entrepreneurship and will be able to develop a working prototype of a software solution that solves a real-world problem. The course’s practical approach ensures that students are well-prepared to navigate the complexities of the digital and software sectors and succeed in an ever-changing business landscape.

This study aims to predict whether university students will make efficient use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the coming years, using a statistical analysis that predicts the outcome of a binary dependent variable (in this case, the efficient use of AI). Several independent variables, such as digital skills management or the use of Chat GPT, are considered.The results obtained allow us to know that inefficient use is linked to the lack of digital skills or age, among other factors, whereas Social Sciences students have the least probability of using Chat GPT efficiently, and the youngest students are the ones who make the worst use of AI.