21st Century Skills: Essential Competencies for the Industry Workforce

Program Description

The need for 21st Century Skills is evident in today’s workforce the world over. While many in the workforce may have the theoretical and academic knowledge, they lack certain skill sets that allow them to put that theory into practice. At the collegiate level, graduates are leaving the academic arena unprepared for many of the challenges their new career will pose.

By teaching soft skills (problem solving, critical thinking, teamwork, conflict resolution, and communication) through a blended learning and applied methodology, participants will have the opportunity to not only put the theoretical knowledge they have learned into practice but will also be doing this while developing workforce-readiness skills employers are desperately seeking.

This program utilizes an applied project framework that will encourage participants to use these skills practically in an authentic work environment to necessitate line of sight changes. Using these skills as tools through this framework will assist participants in honing their abilities while changing patterns in their workplace behavior.

Program Topics

The 21st Century Skills Certification program is focused on the following areas:

• Critical Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Communication
• Conflict Resolution
• Leadership and Team Building

Learning Outcomes

 Upon completion of this certification program, participants will be able to:

• Implement strategies to improve productivity by working more effectively in a team-oriented environment through the development of communication and team building skills.
• Evaluate one’s own performance to reinforce career growth through the development of leadership and communication skills.
• Define, examine, analyze and ultimately resolve problems employees or managers face in the workplace through the use of learned critical thinking skills.
• Use strategies to better resolve conflicts that arise between employees.
• Demonstrate the ability to confidently present ideas, opinions, and plans to managers and supervisors. 
• Complete a reflective and observatory action-based project to improve learned skills in a real-world workplace setting.

Earning a Certificate

The program is organized implementing a blended-learning format. It includes the following learning activities:

• Attendance of five 1-day face-to-face workshops. 

1. Session #1: Monday, May 6, 2019
2. Session #2: Friday, May 10, 2019
3. Session #3: Wednesday, May 15, 2019
4. Session #4: Monday, May 20, 2019
5. Session #5: Thursday, May 23, 2019

• Mid-week learning facilitation through online delivery
• Completion of an applied project in the form of a digital portfolio

Who Should Enroll

Pre-requisites

For participants in this program to effectively learn, retain, and apply the concepts in the workshop sessions and assignments, English will need to be used as the primary language for both verbal and written communication. Participants in this program should have an English proficiency equal to that of a CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) level of B1 or higher.

Contact Information

For more information, please contact Mr. Jimmy Cervin via email James.Cervin@asu.edu