Why listening and interpersonal skills?

The importance of listening and interpersonal skills has long been recognised in vocational programmes such as medicine, teaching, social work etc. These skills have also gained an increase in profile across other disciplines as employability becomes a key success indicator for graduates.

Student personal development planning has encouraged a more holistic approach to thinking about ‘graduateness’ in the 21st century. It has also provided opportunities for identifying the skills required to be a successful learner and an effective, well-rounded graduate.

The softer skills of listening, engaging in, or facilitating conversations and relating to others are the cornerstones of success in our more socially collaborative learning and teaching environment, whether in a traditional classroom or virtually.

It is the development of these skills that the listening and interpersonal skills pages aim to support.