English Literature as a Catalyst for Soft Skills Development in Higher Education

In the light of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, educational reforms, reflective learning and use of ICT in the educational field shows the relevance of soft skills education in higher studies. In the contemporary educational context, the development of soft skills has become essential for the holistic learning of students and their professional growth. Thus this paper emphasizes soft skills as an integral part of learning through literature. As literature plays a significant role, it provides deeper insights into and understanding of human emotions and feelings. It functions as a laboratory and a pedagogical tool for soft skills development. Thus this paper aims to conceptualize literature as a catalyst to accelerate and stimulates soft skills development. The literature organically helps to develop soft skills through reading, understanding and nurturing those skills via acceptance and not merely instructing and training individuals. Thus the key soft skills such as communication skills, emotional intelligence, empathy, critical thinking, decision-making, team-work culture and stress management can be developed efficiently in higher education. The market and nation require skilled workforce for the individual, societal and national growth. Hence literature can efficiently develop soft skills using analytical, critical and textual approaches to demonstrate the qualitative perspectives of literature in developing soft skills. In higher education, India’s potential human resource and productive demographic dividend can be built and nurtured fruitfully. Hence for undergraduates and postgraduates learners with teacher-students interaction in advanced learning environment soft skills development plays significant role. It also aligns with NEP 2020, which extensively focuses on skills-based education, employability and holistic development goals. Hence it is convenient to consider that literature functions as a powerful medium that actively promotes and enhances soft skills among young learners in higher education.