Over 13,24,954 Indian students head to study abroad and secure admissions at some of the top universities in the world. While Indian students are welcomed everywhere and are usually hailed as the leaders in technical skills, what they lack, as per experts, is soft skills.

Time and again, in several interviews with experts, indianexpress.com has observed that experts request Indian students to work on their soft skills when they head abroad to pursue higher education. Some experts share their opinion on the same:

The education system in India is undergoing a rapid transition and shifting focus from an exam and vocation-oriented approach to a holistic learning and development approach. Educationists are now exploring learning beyond the curriculum to inculcate innovative and creative thinking among students. Modern methods of presentation and individual delivery, interactive discussions among peers, public speaking and communication skills improvement are now being integrated with more traditional methods of academia.

So yes, while observations point towards a gap in desirable levels of soft skills, the system is now sensitised, and Indian students are catching up successfully. Coupled with their repertoire of technical skills and impeccable subject knowledge they are giving tough competition in the global arena.

Being ready for college and career requires that students have both the technical skills to be successful, as well as the “soft skills” that are an essential part of postsecondary success. Soft skills ensure a student’s ability to present effectively, clearly communicate their ideas, and work as part of a team. Focusing on mastering these skills and other dimensions of readiness ensures students are prepared with the full range of knowledge that they need to be successful in college, career, and life.

Indian candidates are usually very hardworking, analytical, and good with numbers and technology. One of the areas where they don’t rank as high, especially when they are in their formative years and early mid-teens to late teens or early 20s is more around oral communication in a foreign language. Due to this, what happens is that when you are out in a situation for the first time where you need to converse in English completely, you can get shy or awkward. This is mainly with those students who do not grow up in an English-speaking household.

The University of Queensland advises students to enhance their soft skills by taking on leadership roles, engaging in global experiences, contributing to research projects, and participating in innovative endeavours, including startups. Their approach underscores the importance of a comprehensive education that blends deep knowledge in their chosen field with the development of a diverse skill set. This approach is designed to equip students with the adaptability and lifelong learning skills necessary to meet the changing demands of the future job market.

Although many elements of learning are common across countries, some different cultural contexts and norms may differ between a Canadian and an Indian classroom.

In Canada, instructors often expect students to engage in classroom discussions, ask questions, and think critically about issues and problems presented in class. At York, students may be asked to show their learning through case studies, real-world problems, group projects, and other ways of synthesising and applying the knowledge and theory learned in class to actual problems or situations.

Indian students are amazing when it comes to technical skills – that’s a big strength back home in India, where there’s a huge focus on science and tech in education. But when these students go abroad for studies, they often find out that there’s more to learn, especially in soft skills like communicating well, working as a team, and being adaptable. It’s mostly because the way they’re taught back home is a bit different from what’s expected on the international stage.

For Indian students looking to improve their soft skills, I would advise getting involved in activities outside their textbooks. Join a club, work on projects with classmates from different backgrounds, or do some volunteer work. It’s a fun and practical way to build those soft skills. Additionally, lots of universities overseas offer workshops or courses to help out with this too. Getting involved in these can round out their skills and make their time studying abroad even more rewarding and fruitful.