Strategic soft power for developing poultry production competencies and empowering the next generation of industry...

The poultry industry plays a crucial role in addressing global challenges, which necessitates the modernization of educational programs to develop not only technical competencies but also global and social awareness for sustainable advancement. Extracurricular activities (ECA) have gained wide recognition as essential tools for fostering holistic personal and professional development, particularly within academic programs. While formal education provides the foundation for technical knowledge, ECA offers students valuable opportunities to enhance their professional and interpersonal skills. These activities serve as a vital complement to in-class learning. This study aims to explore the role of ECA as a form of strategic soft power in developing the professional and personal competencies of students enrolled in poultry science programs and in preparing them to meet the future challenges of the industry. A qualitative descriptive methodology was adopted, including a review of relevant literature, to assess the impact of employing ECA as a strategic soft power in shaping the competencies of poultry science students within higher education institutions (HEIs). The study indicates that the effective use of extracurricular activities (ECA) in poultry science programs is expected to have a positive impact on student retention rates and enhance the programs' attractiveness, thereby encouraging more students to enroll. Additionally, these activities play a central role in offering graduates valuable opportunities to strengthen their professional and personal skills, enabling them to meet the dynamic and growing demands of the poultry industry. Based on these insights, the study recommends integrating ECA into poultry science curricula as a core component of student development. The HEIs should allocate adequate resources to support such initiatives and foster partnerships with industry stakeholders to offer training opportunities and practical workshops. Moreover, HEIs should cultivate an inclusive environment that encourages active student participation in extracurricular engagements, thereby enhancing their employability and leadership potential within the poultry sector.