INTRODUCTION TO SOFT SKILLS UHS1021 Dr. Aini Ahmad Soft Skills Department Centre for Modern Languages & Human Sciences /

COURSE SYNOPSIS This course exposes students to Soft Skills which are non-job specific skills that can be used in different occupations. This module aims at creating the sense of awareness and responsibilities as UMP students in nurturing well-rounded personalities. This could be developed through the seven elements which are Communication (CS), Critical thinking and problem solving (CTPS), Team-working (TW), Leadership (LS), Lifelong learning (LLL) and Ethic & Moral for Professionals (EMP). Students could develop these skills through course work, internship, voluntary jobs and life experiences. Course title : Soft Skills 1 Course code: UHS1021 Unit: 1 credit hour (2 hours x 14 week = 28 hours)

Course Outcome At the end of this course, students should be able to: Identify the Soft Skills elements Demonstrate the skills in dealing with others in various situations Apply the Soft Skills elements through various activities and programs

Assessment Methods Group Project 30% Class activities/Simulation 30% Final Test 40%

What are Soft Skills? Does ‘qualifications’ enough to get job? How important is Soft Skills? Define soft skillsIdentify their importance Defining Soft Skills

Hard Skills VS Soft Skills

Students say: "All I need for success at work is the special knowledge of my chosen career."

In reality: "Having hard skills gets you hired; lacking soft skills gets you fired."

The Differences Hard Skills Tangible skills that are easy to teach, identify, and measure. Some examples of hard skills are occupational skills Soft Skills Intangible skills that are associated with an individual’s ability to effectively interact with others. These skills are not easy to measure but they can be observed in individuals who possess the ability to interact with people well or lead others.

7 ELEMENTS OF SOFT UMP

Leadership Able to lead group project Able to work as a leader and as a follower when needed Able to supervise group members

Teamworking Able to work in team Able to show responsibility in completing task Able to handle conflict among team members Able to solve problems together in team

Communication Able to exchange ideas Able to deliver messages clearly according to the level of audience Able to demonstrate proper non-verbal communication during presentation Able to ask relevant questions

Ethics and Moral Professional Attend classes/tutorials as required Observe punctuality Abide by the university rules and regulations related to academic Dress according to the university dress code

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving Able to search for ideas and information to solve problems Using various problem solving tools to formulate solution Referring various sources to conclude solution

Information Management & Lifelong Learning Able to organize information according to subject requirement Able to refer to various sources in completing assignments Able to relate subject to current issues Able to use online information sources

The Importance of Soft Skills

To Students SS enables a students to be flexible in their approach..

To Students SS makes students welcome change with an open mind.

To Students SS helps students to handle the ever-increasing expectations from various business stakeholders.

To Students SS encourages students to adopt ethical ways for long- term growth.

To Work Culture SS encourages creativity and innovation.

To Work Culture SS fosters a culture of symbiotic growth between the staff and the organization.

To Organization SS enables organization to grow intellectually, and generate revenue.

Current Scenarios in Workplace

Instruction Look for job advertisement on the internet. Identify soft skills elements needed by the industry.