In my opinion: Developing 'soft' skills will help during hard times
Dr Marian Fitzgibbon,
Head of the School of Humanities, Athlone Institute of Technology
The world of work in the 21st century is demanding a whole new set of skills which have been played down in our traditional employment preparation model.
The centrality of "softer" skills to social and economic vitality has always been a tenet of humanities education. While it might seem that these have been de-emphasised in comparison with scientific and technological skills in "knowledge-based" Ireland, recent forecasts veer away from this polarisation.
The November 2009 Forfas report -- Skills in Creativity, Design and Innovation -- challenges higher education to develop students capable of innovating and adept at team and interdisciplinary work as well as problem and inquiry-based learning.
In March 2009, the National Competitiveness Council called for similarly generic skills: critical thinking, self-management and self-directed learning, communication, influencing skills and ICT (information and communication technology) literacy, and highlighted the value of work placements.
It has long been recognised that these soft skills are actually hard. They're hard to master, they're hard to teach and as far as employers are concerned, they're hard to find!
Ireland's tiger years were attributed in part to a well-educated population. Institutes of technology played an important role in this, offering accessible third-level education founded on favourable staff-student ratios, work placements and a ladder system. Once again the need for practical, professional programmes is paramount. Young people cope poorly with the dilemmas of modern Ireland. Education must enable them to grapple with the moral complexity of the public sphere.
Informed by a deep knowledge of its student body and responding to such calls, Athlone Institute of Technology has developed a new type of arts degree. The new BA (Hons) in Society and Communications, commencing in September 2010, goes to the core of identified deficits, through emphasis on communication and practical creativity, grounded in language and interaction in social, work and community contexts.
Students will take a fully integrated programme comprising English, communications, ICT, psychology, civic and social entrepreneurship over the four years of their course.
Students will learn hard practical skills like ICT, project management, report writing, presentations and teamwork as well as having ample opportunity to explore their own creativity. This practical dimension is further reinforced by the relatively unique inclusion of a work placement, allowing students to try out their preferred domain of employment.
Future- and recession-proofed students will emerge as skilled, confident and polished communicators with positive attitudes and strong interpersonal attributes, capable of flexible thinking and equipped for change.
On graduation, students will be able to work in a range of areas such as SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises), social, community, local government, journalism and media, arts, tourism, charitable and NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations). They will have access to a wide array of postgraduate programmes and possibly, entry to teacher training programmes.
Irish Independent
