The ability to communicate, adapt to different situations and take the initiative is what will help those graduates stand out, he said.

'I think, increasingly, employers are finding that the soft skills are quite difficult to get from the university graduates today,' noted Mr Tan.

He was one of nine industry leaders who met Minister of State for Education Lui Tuck Yew yesterday to give their views on the fourth publicly funded university.

The session was the sixth and last of such focus groups.

He has met parents, students from junior colleges and polytechnics, as well as polytechnic alumni and human resource directors.

Singapore's fourth university is being planned so that 30 per cent of each Primary 1 cohort can get a university education by 2015. Now 23 per cent attend the three universities here each year.

Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui has been leading a committee to look at expanding university places.

More details about the new university will be released during the Committee of Supply debate in March.

The plan will be presented for discussion with academics and industry leaders on the International Academic Advisory Panel, when it convenes here in June.

Yesterday, soft skills such as communication skills were top on the wish lists of industry leaders from sectors such as finance and design.

'It was interesting because we spent very little time talking about the schools that the fourth university should have,' RADM Lui told reporters after the 11/2 hour discussion.

Instead, they talked about the kind of qualities graduates should have.

It is hard to know what jobs would be in demand five to 10 years down the road.

'But I think as long as somebody is willing to learn and to re-learn, is adaptable, has a range of skill sets and is comfortable working with people and the unknown, I think we are in good stead,' he said.

The industry leaders also suggested internships.

The ability to navigate cultures is also a key skill employers are hoping for.

Yahoo South-east Asia vice-president and managing director Ken Mandel said that his company is looking for people who know 'the neighbourhood' and have an appetite for risk.