Department of Soft Skills Competency (DSSC) offers short programmes to equip students with the necessary soft skills and life skills to enhance their competitive edge in the job market and excel in life. It also coordinates the University's compulsory unit on co-curricular.
With its vision of providing holistic education, the University looks beyond developing students academically to providing them with other skills that enhance their contributions to the workplace and society.
Soft skills are essential skills in the workplace. Students with excellent soft skills can fit into most environments because they are adaptable, flexible, committed and persevering, and display the right attitude. Such qualities cut across all disciplines. In order to perform well and advance in one's career, one needs to have high levels of soft skills in dealing with people. In short, technical skills need to be complemented with soft skills. Soft skills take years to develop. Students are therefore encouraged to start developing their soft skills while pursuing their academic study.
With effect from January 2009, UTAR has introduced the UTAR Soft Skills Development Certificate (USSDC), a certification system to recognise students' achievements and efforts to improve themselves in areas of communication, leadership, teamwork, strategic thinking, creativity and commitment to integrity. It involves experiential learning in training and interaction sessions and activities outside the classroom. Students are strongly encouraged to register for the USSDC.
DSSC engages experienced trainers and also works in collaboration with public and private sector organisations to conduct the following key areas of soft skills and life skills programmes for students:
1) Communication and Language Skills
2) Cognitive Skills
3) Complex Problem Solving
4) Critical Thinking
5) Emotional Intelligence, Cultural Intelligence and Teamwork
6) Moral and Professional Ethics
7) Leadership Skills
8) Lifelong Learning & Information Management
9) Entrepreneurship Skills
10) Digital Literacy
DSSC also organises a wide range of activities such as Speaker's Corner session, UTAR New Village Community Project, and Student Overseas Study Tour and Exchange.
