Mastering Soft Skills Competencies in Graduate Programs
Most students are interested in pursuing a master’s degree to advance their careers and obtain leadership positions. Graduate education does help students advance their career, but the most important learning outcomes focus more on the development of soft skills, such as teamwork, leadership, analytical, critical thinking, communication, problem solving, etc.
Organizations expect their leaders and managers to be competent communicators, problems solvers, analysts, and with great relationship building skills. The National Association of Colleges and Employers released results from their 2022 annual survey and identified communication, critical thinking, and teamwork as the most important soft skills. However, employers rated students much lower on these competencies.
Graduate programs provide an excellent opportunity to develop these essential skills. In all graduate programs, the coursework offers students different opportunities to analyze data, write reports, synthesize information, present research in front of various audiences, or work case studies. With numerous research papers, group projects, and oral presentations, graduate students practice these skills regularly. At the end of their 18 or 24-months program, students graduate not only with academic credentials but also a set of soft skills that will ensure a successful career in a leadership position.
Many Zayed University’s master’s degree programs are designed to prepare students to develop these competencies. For example, one of the learning outcomes for the Master in Diplomacy and International Affairs is to prepare students “to assess, critique, and analyze the political, economic, historical and social forces affecting events in various areas of the world”. The Master of Arts in Communication prepares students “to communicate complex information effectively and deliver professional presentations in written, verbal, digital and integrated formats”.
As graduate students prepare for a fast-changing global workplace, they need to be equipped with skills that will equip them to analyze, communicate, collaborate, and lead in a future that can be uncertain due to the increase in AI and other disruptive technologies. Moreover, graduate students with a set of soft skills will have an edge over others in the corporate arena.
For more information about graduate programs at Zayed University, contact the Graduate Student Recruitment Specialist at 02-599-3605 / e-mail or visit the website