Emerging Challenges and Trends in Soft Skills and Knowledge Management in University Education: An Ibero-American Perspective on Employability and Social Innovation through a Bibliometric Approach

Abstract

In the context of the profound socioeconomic changes taking place in Ibero-America, higher education faces the challenge of adapting its educational models to the demands of a highly dynamic and competitive labor environment. In this scenario, soft skills are consolidating as key competencies for employability, while knowledge management emerges as an essential tool for fostering social and organizational innovation in the 21st century. This article proposes a bibliometric analysis of recent research addressing this thematic convergence, with emphasis on scientific production generated in Ibero-America, to identify emerging challenges and trends. Through the analysis of quantitative indicators and co-occurrence networks of 77 documents from Q1 quartile journals in the Scopus and Web of Science databases, the study examines the co-occurrence network of 380 terms defined by 247 authors. Four primary clusters, representing the strongest thematic relationships, were identified: Cluster 1: University education oriented toward employability and labor integration. Cluster 2: Territorial innovation and digital capabilities in higher education. Cluster 3: Critical education, social justice, and open policies in professional training. Cluster 4: Organizational culture, leadership, and knowledge behavior. These findings help establish robust new research gaps in this field of study.