NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
ERIC Number: EJ764824
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007-May
Pages: 3
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1527-1803
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Soft Skills: The New Curriculum for Hard-Core Technical Professionals
Bancino, Randy; Zevalkink, Claire
Techniques: Connecting Education and Careers (J1), v82 n5 p20-22 May 2007
In this article, the authors talk about the importance of soft skills for hard-core technical professionals. In many technical professions, the complete focus of education and training is on technical topics either directly or indirectly related to a career or discipline. Students are generally required to master various mathematics skills, science skills and detailed technical skills directly related to the specific discipline they are planning to enter. This curriculum is critical to their success, and yet the fast-paced, global marketplace of today is demanding more. Technical professionals in various disciplines such as information technology, engineering, architecture, and research and development are increasingly required to broaden their skill sets to master the so-called soft skills. Soft skills, as defined by Wikipedia, are "the cluster of personality traits, social graces, facility with language, personal habits, friendliness, and optimism that mark people to varying degrees. Soft skills complement hard skills, which are the technical requirements of a job." Furthermore, the authors present the three driving forces behind business leaders' increasing demand for a broader skill set from technical professionals: (1) necessity for improvements to the bottom line; (2) increasing competition; and (3) globalization.
Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE). 1410 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Tel: 800-826-9972; Tel: 703-683-3111; Fax: 703-683-7424; Web site: http://www.acteonline.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A