Soft Skills Acquisition for the Knowledge Economy: A Research Strategy for Policy Evolution in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Intermediate and Emergent Economies

This paper explores aspects of ‘soft skills acquisition for the knowledge economy’ and explores a research strategy for policy evolution in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in intermediate and emergent economies. Evidence from Pakistan as an emergent, intermediate economy is reviewed, with respect to preparing potential entrants to the workforce for substantive engagement with a knowledge-based economy. Technical and occupational skills continue to underpin economic capacity. However, the knowledge economy requires enhanced personal and social capacities exploiting all aspects of human communication and interaction. The ability to use digital technologies to explore, exploit and use sources of data, information, intelligence and knowledge is essential in deploying soft skills to exploit the knowledge economy. Human capacities accented towards soft skills interacting with technologies and knowledge are foundations for future economic success. The review identifies the need for a research strategy for policy evolution in TVET in Pakistan, whose experience can provide a template for other emergent economies. Key parameters are identified by the authors which need to be incorporated and monitored to assist policy evolution. In parallel, the nature of curricula for soft skills development will have to be seriously reviewed and reformed. These need to be developed in practice in a variety of settings. Organisations entering the knowledge economy have had to accept the need for cultural changes. In the same manner, the pathway to soft skills acquisition for the knowledge economy requires a similar level of cultural change.