Training and developing the next generation: Why are soft skills more important than ever?
Year: 2026
Type: conference-paper
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: The dynamic changes in the 21st-century labour market demand new leadership competencies. The aim of this study is to examine the attitudes of potential leaders among Generation Z university students towards sustainable leadership. The research seeks to answer what priorities future leaders set regarding soft skills, self-awareness and coaching, and how they assess the role of higher education in developing these competencies in light of 21st-century labour market demands. In the study, we surveyed 597 Hungarian Generation Z respondents at the start of their careers about their attitudes. The results show that, for the university students surveyed, soft skills and self-awareness are not merely supplementary skills, but can also serve as the foundations of successful leadership. The study highlights a significant openness to coaching, as well as the development gaps and opportunities present in higher education.
Authors: Nikolett Huszak, Monika Garai-Fodor
Institution: Obuda University
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W7204206128