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Home > HCAS > HCAS_PUBS > HCAS_JOURNALS > TQR Home > TQR > Vol. 25 > No. 11 (2020)

 

Abstract

In this paper, we review systematically the role of problem-based learning (PBL) in developing soft skills in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and other fields of studies. The Systematic Literature Review (SLR) includes the most recent empirical, review, and conceptual studies from TVET and other multiple fields of studies including medicine, humanities, and engineering between the years of 2001 and 2016 collected from four databases. A qualitative method was used to accomplish the systematic review. After the collection of articles, the selected studies were analyzed through thematic analysis. From this review, we concluded that PBL as an instructional approach has a significant role in the development of soft skills among students of various disciplines including TVET; empirical evidence is predominantly conclusive in identifying the acquisitions of various soft skills including communication skills, conflict resolution skills, leadership skills, and interpersonal skills, and finally, several factors might influence the relationship of PBL and soft skills such as duration and process of PBL instruction, role of facilitator, and awareness and training of learners. Moreover, there are fewer number of empirical studies on the role and effects of PBL approach to developing soft skills in TVET.

Keywords

Problem-Based Learning, Soft Skills, Innovative Approaches; Systematic Literature Review, Skills Development, TVET

Author Bio(s)

Sadia Deep works in the capacity of Assistant Professor in COMSATS University Vehari campus. She has done her Ph.D. from University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. Her research interest lies in multi-disciplinary areas like Education, educational pedagogies, Educational Leadership, Humanities, Applied linguistics, Social sciences, etc. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to sadiadeep@gmail.com.

Dr. Ali Ahmed has been serving as an Assistant Professor at COMSATS University Vehari campus for the last ten years. He leads the department of humanities currently in the capacity of the department's head. He completed his Ph.D. from Bahauddin Zakria University Multan, Pakistan in the field of English. His research interest lies in humanities and especially linguistics key areas including lexicography, English language teaching, discourse analysis, and lexicology. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to draliahmadsaroya@gmail.com.

Nazia Suleman has been serving as an Assistant Professor at COMSATS University Vehari campus for the last ten years. Her Ph.D. is on the verge of completion from Women University Multan. Her research interest lies in multi-disciplinary areas like applied linguistics, feminism, second language learning, terminology, and terminography, etc. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to Nazia.slmn@gmail.com.

Muhammad Zahid Abbas has done his Ph.D. degree in Computer Science from UTM Malaysia. Currently, he serves as Assistant Professor at COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus. Apart from his technical research fields, His interest also lies in the issues regarding the integration of PBL into teaching methods in Computer science, etc. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to zahidmcs@gmail.com.

UZMA Nazar has been serving as a lecturer in COMSATS University Vehari campus for the last 3 years. She desires to opt for Ph.D. studies as soon as she gets a suitable opportunity. Her research interest lies in multi-disciplinary areas like applied linguistics, feminism, second language learning, etc. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to uzma-nazar@cuivehari.edu.pk.

Hina Shaheen is a lecturer at COMSATS University Vehari campus from the last five years. She holds a master's in Linguistics. She intends to pursue her Ph.D. from an institute of repute in linguistics. His research interests lie in the multidisciplinary fields of key importance like applied linguistics and humanities in general. Correspondence regarding this article can also be addressed directly to hinashaheen@cuivehari.edu.pk.

Dr. Abdul Razzaq has been serving as an Assistant professor at COMSATS University Vehari campus for the last 8 years. He has done his Ph.D. research in Islamic studies from BZU Multan. His interest also lies in the diverse issues including the implementation of advanced teaching methodologies. Correspondence regarding this article can be addressed directly to abdulrazzaq@cuivehari.edu.pk.

Acknowledgements

We, all the authors would like to acknowledge the high ups of Comsats University Islamabad and Higher Education Commission Islamabad, Pakistan for providing us the consistent encouragement and as well as a platform to work in collaboration for research initiatives and professional development.

Publication Date

11-18-2020

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

DOI

10.46743/2160-3715/2020.4114

ORCID ID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2879-475X

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