Evaluating the Role of Universities in Promoting Life skills among Young Students

Abstract

The present study was conducted to examine the role of universities in promoting life skills among the youth to live and work in the 21^st century. It was a descriptive study and adopted the survey approach of the social sciences. The population of the study consisted of students and faculty (of bachelor studies programs) of the final semester in general universities in Pakistan. A multistage sampling technique was used. Five universities were selected randomly, one from each province and one from the capital territory of Islamabad; one faculty was taken as a cluster; and then finally, ten (10) faculty members and eighty (80) students were contacted prospectively by each of the sampled universities. The total samples were thus comprised of 50 university teachers and 400 students. The researcher, after the literature review, prepared two questionnaires on a five-point-likert-scale: one for university teachers and one for the students. After piloting, the tools were administered with the help of two data collectors who were trained for the purpose.  Out of 50 and 400 questionnaires, forty-four and 382 questionnaires of the university teachers and students, respectively, were completed and returned. As the study was of descriptive nature and explored the role universities in promoting life skills among the youth/ students in Pakistan; hence, descriptive statistics i.e. percentage and mean score(s) was used to analyze the data and demonstrate the situation. On the basis of the data analysis, the study concluded that universities have a prime responsibility in promoting life skills among youth and students by offering properly designed co-curricular activities. The universities are promoting life skills among the youth, including IT skills, communication skills, critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity & innovation through co-curricular activities.