Educational Resource Management and Academic Quality Improvement in Higher Education Institutions

Abstrak

The era of globalization and the Industrial Revolution 4.0 requires engineering graduates to possess not only technical competencies but also non-technical abilities, including leadership communication and soft skills. This study examines the relationships between youth leadership communication, soft skills, and the employability of engineering students in Indonesia. A quantitative approach with a descriptive-correlational design was employed. The sample consisted of 125 active engineering students who had completed at least five semesters and had participated in student organizational activities, selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire comprising 45 statement items. Data analysis included classical assumption tests, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression using IBM SPSS version 26. The results indicate that youth leadership communication was significantly and positively associated with employability (β = 0.268; p < 0.001), while soft skills showed a stronger statistical association with employability (β = 0.648; p < 0.001). Simultaneously, youth leadership communication and soft skills accounted for 75.4% of the variance in engineering students' employability (Adjusted R² = 0.754; F = 190.773; p < 0.001). These findings indicate that leadership communication and soft skills are significantly related to engineering students' employability and highlight the relevance of learning experiences beyond formal coursework. The findings suggest that Indonesian engineering education may consider strengthening the integration of leadership communication and soft skills development into learning outcomes to support students' preparation for the demands of the Industry 4.0 era.