The Department of Soft Skills Competency (DSSC) offers short programmes to equip students with the necessary soft skills and life skills to enhance their competitive edge in the job market and excel in life. It also coordinates the University's compulsory unit on "Sun Zi: Art of War and Business Strategies" and co-curricular units.

With its vision of providing holistic education, the University looks beyond developing students academically to providing them with other skills that enhance their contributions to the workplace and society.

Soft skills are essential skills in the workplace. Students with excellent soft skills can fit into most environments because they are adaptable, flexible, committed and persevering, and display the right attitude. Such qualities cut across all disciplines. In order to perform well and advance in one's career, one needs to have high levels of soft skills in dealing with people. In short, technical skills need to be complemented with soft skills.

Soft skills take years to develop. Students are therefore encouraged to start developing their soft skills while pursuing their academic study. With effect from January 2009, UTAR has introduced the UTAR SOFT SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE (USSDC), a certification system to recognise students' achievements and efforts to improve themselves in areas of communication, leadership, teamwork, strategic thinking, creativity and commitment to integrity. It involves experiential learning in training and interaction sessions and activities outside the classroom. Students are strongly encouraged to register for the USSDC.

DSSC engages experienced trainers and also works in collaboration with public and private sector organisations to conduct the following key areas of soft skills and life skills programmes for students:

• Communication skills: This is the critical skill mentioned most often by employers and is about the ability to listen, write and speak effectively.

• Thinking skills : This is to develop students' creative potential and thinking abilities, and to enable them to contribute effectively in the workplace.

• Teambuilding and Leadership skills: This emphasises the need to work with others from different disciplines as a cohesive team and to be an effective leader.

• Emotional intelligence: This stresses a person's ability to deal with his or her own emotions and of others in a constructive manner that will promote teamwork and productivity.

• Entrepreneurial and Innovative skills: This skill is not only for graduates who want to be self-employed but also for those seeking to be employed. Employees should also be entrepreneur-like in performing their jobs and seek new business opportunities for their employers.

• Life Skills: DSSC also conducts Life Skills Programmes which aim to help students to develop and enhance their Practical Living Skills, Personal Growth and Management Skills as well as their Social Skills to persevere and succeed in this complex world of today and to face the challenges of tomorrow.

DSSC also organises a wide range of activities such as Speakers' Corner session, UTAR New Village Community Project, and Student Overseas Study Tour and Exchange.