Master Thesis Presentation - Kelian Schekkerman

Title: Soft Skills in Software Engineering Education: Assessing the Impact of Targeted Interventions on Student Soft Skill Development

Abstract:

Purpose: This study investigates the role of soft skills in team performance and evaluates how the development of relevant soft skills could be stimulated through targeted interventions, benefiting students in their education and preparing them for the industry.

Methods: Through an analysis of the soft skill ratings and course grades in two Software Engineering cohorts at the University of Groningen, totalling 240 students across 55 teams, we identified the skills with the highest impact on performance. Combining these results with a literature review of soft skill development allowed the design of targeted interventions in the newest cohort, each intervention focused on stimulating the development of high-impact soft skills.

Results: Early project performance is defined by the importance of project management and problem-solving skills. Successful completion of the project is characterised by the mindset of students and their ability to manage complex situations. The targeted interventions were implemented at the cohort, group and student-level. Qualitative feedback indicates that the majority of students found the cohort-level interventions in Block A helpful. Initial results point to similar outcomes for the interventions in Block B.

Conclusion: The findings of Block A indicate that students perceived the targeted interventions as highly beneficial for developing and enhancing their soft skills. This transforms our previous work from retrospective analysis to proactive support, laying the groundwork for a comprehensive mixed-method analysis upon the current cohort's completion of the Software Engineering course.

Supervisors: Andrea Capiluppi, Ayushi Rastogi