The Perception of Volunteerism in Cultivating Soft Skills in University Students

This qualitative study examines the role of volunteerism in fostering soft skill development among university students, focusing on a program at Asia Pacific University (APU) in early 2024. Through ethnographic methods, including participant observation and interviews, the study addresses four research questions concerning perceptions of soft skill acquisition among teachers and students. Literature review findings indicate a growing demand for graduates with diverse soft skills, which are often overlooked in traditional academic programs. Volunteerism, however, offers a practical avenue for students to cultivate skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership. Guided by Experiential Learning Theory (ELT), the study explores how students learn through concrete experiences, reflection, conceptualization, and active experimentation. Data collection involved interviewing participants using convenience sampling. Findings reveal that volunteerism facilitated the development of essential soft skills among students, including communication, problem-solving, and empathy. Despite limitations, the study concluded that volunteerism offers a valuable platform for soft skill development, particularly when integrated into university curricula, and underscores the transformative potential of volunteerism in nurturing well-rounded graduates equipped with essential soft skills for the future workforce.