View in EDS

Linking Soft and Hard Skills to Career Attitudes: The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem in Experiential Learning Programs

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Linking Soft and Hard Skills to Career Attitudes: The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem in Experiential Learning Programs
Language: English
Authors: Roy Hendrawan (ORCID 0000-0003-0226-6489), Tur Nastiti (ORCID 0000-0003-0791-406X), Rangga Almahendra (ORCID 0000-0002-6007-7662), Reni Rosari (ORCID 0000-0003-0406-2287)
Source: Higher Education, Skills and Work-based Learning. 2025 15(6):1263-1281.
Availability: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 19
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, College Students, Student Attitudes, Work Attitudes, Self Esteem, Experiential Learning, Developing Nations, Internship Programs, Skill Development, Program Attitudes, Soft Skills
Geographic Terms: Indonesia
DOI: 10.1108/HESWBL-11-2024-0358
ISSN: 2042-3896
Abstract: Purpose: Although experiential learning (EL) is well studied, limited research examines how skill acquisition interacts with psychological mechanisms -- such as self-esteem -- to shape career attitudes, particularly in large-scale, government-backed programs in the Global South. This study investigates how EL participation develops soft and hard skills and how these skills influence career attitudes through self-esteem. Design/methodology/approach: Guided by the experiential learning and attribution theories, this quantitative cross-sectional study analyzed survey data from 18,505 Indonesian university students participating in the Magang dan Studi Independen Bersertifikat (MSIB) program, a nationwide certified internship and independent study initiative. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings: EL participation significantly enhanced both soft and hard skills. These skills positively influenced students' career attitudes, with self-esteem partially mediating this relationship. Research limitations/implications: Incorporating self-esteem into EL models offers more profound insight into the psychological processes that translate skills into career-oriented mindsets in underrepresented contexts. Practical implications: Embedding project-based learning, sustained industry engagement and inclusive access to EL programs can strengthen graduates' technical and interpersonal skills, boost self-confidence and enhance competitiveness in dynamic labor markets. Originality/value: This study proposes a novel integrated framework linking skill acquisition and self-esteem to predict career attitudes -- an approach largely absent in prior EL research. While most studies focus on the Global North, this work provides rare, large-scale empirical evidence from the Global South, where institutionalized EL opportunities remain limited.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1491698
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1491698
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Linking Soft and Hard Skills to Career Attitudes: The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem in Experiential Learning Programs
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Roy+Hendrawan%22">Roy Hendrawan</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0226-6489">0000-0003-0226-6489</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tur+Nastiti%22">Tur Nastiti</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0791-406X">0000-0003-0791-406X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Rangga+Almahendra%22">Rangga Almahendra</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6007-7662">0000-0002-6007-7662</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Reni+Rosari%22">Reni Rosari</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0406-2287">0000-0003-0406-2287</externalLink>)
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Higher+Education%2C+Skills+and+Work-based+Learning%22"><i>Higher Education, Skills and Work-based Learning</i></searchLink>. 2025 15(6):1263-1281.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 19
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2025
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Audience
  Label: Education Level
  Group: Audnce
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Higher+Education%22">Higher Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Postsecondary+Education%22">Postsecondary Education</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22College+Students%22">College Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Attitudes%22">Student Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Work+Attitudes%22">Work Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self+Esteem%22">Self Esteem</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experiential+Learning%22">Experiential Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Developing+Nations%22">Developing Nations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Internship+Programs%22">Internship Programs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Skill+Development%22">Skill Development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Program+Attitudes%22">Program Attitudes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Soft+Skills%22">Soft Skills</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Indonesia%22">Indonesia</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1108/HESWBL-11-2024-0358
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 2042-3896
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: Although experiential learning (EL) is well studied, limited research examines how skill acquisition interacts with psychological mechanisms -- such as self-esteem -- to shape career attitudes, particularly in large-scale, government-backed programs in the Global South. This study investigates how EL participation develops soft and hard skills and how these skills influence career attitudes through self-esteem. Design/methodology/approach: Guided by the experiential learning and attribution theories, this quantitative cross-sectional study analyzed survey data from 18,505 Indonesian university students participating in the Magang dan Studi Independen Bersertifikat (MSIB) program, a nationwide certified internship and independent study initiative. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings: EL participation significantly enhanced both soft and hard skills. These skills positively influenced students' career attitudes, with self-esteem partially mediating this relationship. Research limitations/implications: Incorporating self-esteem into EL models offers more profound insight into the psychological processes that translate skills into career-oriented mindsets in underrepresented contexts. Practical implications: Embedding project-based learning, sustained industry engagement and inclusive access to EL programs can strengthen graduates' technical and interpersonal skills, boost self-confidence and enhance competitiveness in dynamic labor markets. Originality/value: This study proposes a novel integrated framework linking skill acquisition and self-esteem to predict career attitudes -- an approach largely absent in prior EL research. While most studies focus on the Global North, this work provides rare, large-scale empirical evidence from the Global South, where institutionalized EL opportunities remain limited.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1491698
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1491698
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1108/HESWBL-11-2024-0358
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 19
        StartPage: 1263
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: College Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Student Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Work Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self Esteem
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Experiential Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Developing Nations
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Internship Programs
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Skill Development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Program Attitudes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Soft Skills
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Indonesia
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Linking Soft and Hard Skills to Career Attitudes: The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem in Experiential Learning Programs
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Roy Hendrawan
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Tur Nastiti
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Rangga Almahendra
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Reni Rosari
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 11
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 2042-3896
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 15
            – Type: issue
              Value: 6
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Higher Education, Skills and Work-based Learning
              Type: main
ResultId 1