The improvement of employability among Higher Education students: the use of emotional intelligence as an educational strategy

One of the basic objectives of the implementation of the European Higher Education Area is the achievement of employability in students based on quality higher education focused on learning skills. More and more college students need to acquire, develop and update a solid background at different levels (theoretical, practical and emotional). Indeed, the emotional components relating to the skills demanded by the current labour market play an important role in the achievement of a better and productive personal and professional career for students. Interest in emotional intelligence in the world of education and organizations is growing. There is a slow but progressive trend to consider it as a determining factor in productivity and employability. The use of emotional intelligence facilitates the affective-behavioural balance essential to facing the needs required by the current society. Emotional intelligence as an educational strategy contributes to enhancing emotional skills and employability in the labour activity. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.