Potential of service-learning on students’ interpersonal skills development in technical and vocational education

• Main Authors: Deba, Ahmad Aliyu, Jabor, Mohd. Khata, Buntat, Yahya, Musta’mal, Aede Hatib
• Format: Article
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: LB Theory and practice of education
• Online Access: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/54541/; http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ass.v10n21p1
• Institution: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Developing students’ Interpersonal Skills is a core element of any well-designed Technical and Vocational Education (TVE) particularly in this present era. This is couple with the fact that Interpersonal skills are among the crucial skills preferred in the world of work setting for the betterment of both employer and employee. Over the years, employers of labour have drastically observed decline in interpersonal capabilities of high school graduate for meeting the 21st century workplace’s challenges. However, abundant literatures have indicated the potential roles of service-learning in providing students to achieve knowledge, cognitive skills (discipline specific Skills) and core employability skills specifically the interpersonal skills required in 21st century workplaces. It is on this regard that this library work shed light on the concept of interpersonal skills, concept of service-learning, influence of service-learning in TVE for improving students’ interpersonal skills and the needs of interpersonal skills in TVE related job places. In conclusion, the paper discloses that the fact that there is crucial demand for TVE graduates to posses interpersonal skills and other work skills for effective job performance in the competitive global work environment, it was finally recommended that in order to ensure no skills gap, educators in TVE training institutions, should equip the forthcoming TVE graduates with the necessary skills for employment by lying more emphasize on renown and superior instructional pedagogies such as the Service-Learning.