Volume 4, 2026 – Issue 1
Artificial intelligence and the development of soft skills for employability: A student-centered investigation
El Houssine El Fallaki 
1
Department of English, Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Dhar El Mahraz, Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University, Fes, Morocco
Corresponding author: elhoussine.elfallaki@usmba.ac.ma
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18839902
Abstract
The growing implementation of AI in educational settings has significantly influenced the competencies that students need to be employed within the 21st century. While AI is helping with the development of technical skills and analytical competencies, soft skills, including communication, adaptability, collaboration and critical thinking are still required for lifelong career success. This paper examines the attitudes of university students towards the role of AI in fostering soft skills as pertaining to employability. A structured questionnaire was administered to Moroccan university students in business management and law programs to explore their awareness, use, and attitudes toward AI-supported learning tools. Results indicate that students recognize that AI can support the development of cognitive and personal soft skills, but express doubt concerning its effectiveness in fostering interpersonal and emotional capabilities. The findings also emphasize the necessity for a pedagogically supported integration of AI which is guided by human interaction and ethical reflection. AI may complement but not substitute human teaching when it comes to employability-centered soft skills development, according to the study.
Keywords: artificial intelligence, soft skills, employability, higher education, student perceptions
Published
2026/02/28
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Section
Research Papers
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El Fallaki, E. H. (2026). Artificial intelligence and the development of soft skills for employability: A student-centered investigation. The International Journal of Technology, Innovation, and Education, 4(1), 229–242. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18839902
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El Fallaki, El Houssine. 2026. “Artificial Intelligence and the Development of Soft Skills for Employability: A Student-Centered Investigation.” The International Journal of Technology, Innovation, and Education 4 (1): 229–42. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18839902.
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El Fallaki, El Houssine. “Artificial Intelligence and the Development of Soft Skills for Employability: A Student-Centered Investigation.” The International Journal of Technology, Innovation, and Education, vol. 4, no. 1, Feb. 2026, pp. 229–42, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18839902.
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[1]
E. H. El Fallaki, “Artificial intelligence and the development of soft skills for employability: A student-centered investigation,” The International Journal of Technology, Innovation, and Education, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 229–242, Feb. 2026, doi: 10.5281/zenodo.18839902.
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El Fallaki, E.H. (2026) “Artificial intelligence and the development of soft skills for employability: A student-centered investigation,” The International Journal of Technology, Innovation, and Education, 4(1), pp. 229–242. Available at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18839902.
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El Fallaki EH. Artificial intelligence and the development of soft skills for employability: A student-centered investigation. The International Journal of Technology, Innovation, and Education [Internet]. 2026 Feb 28;4(1):229–42. Available from: https://ijtie.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/N40127.pdf
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El Fallaki, E. H. (2026). Artificial intelligence and the development of soft skills for employability: A student-centered investigation. The International Journal of Technology, Innovation, and Education, 4(1), 229–242. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18839902
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About the authors
- El Houssine El Fallaki is an English teacher and researcher in critical discourse analysis and pedagogy at Tahla High School under the Regional Academy of Education and Training of Fès-Meknès, Morocco. His research interests include media discourse, gender representation, and technology-enhanced learning in English language education. He has experience teaching university students in business and legal English courses and focuses on integrating project-based and AI-supported learning approaches to enhance students’ soft skills and communicative competence.
elhoussine.elfallaki@usmba.ac.ma
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