{"id":1549,"date":"2025-04-28T16:23:26","date_gmt":"2025-04-28T15:23:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/?p=1549"},"modified":"2025-04-28T16:23:26","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T15:23:26","slug":"the-importance-of-human-agency-skills-in-a-digital-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/04\/28\/the-importance-of-human-agency-skills-in-a-digital-world\/","title":{"rendered":"The importance of human agency skills in a digital world"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We were very interested to read <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/society\/2025\/apr\/21\/gen-z-students-in-manchester-to-learn-soft-skills-such-as-empathy-and-time-management\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Guardian article<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> earlier this month about higher education students needing to develop soft skills such as empathy and time management to support the development of confidence and be able to articulate their skills better during job interviews. This resonated with the work of the Skills Centre and the support we provide University of Bath students to develop these same skills to ensure students can progress successfully into the careers of their choice.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We avoid calling them\u00a0\u2018soft\u2019 skills though, to avoid any suggestion that they\u00a0are somehow less important than the technical \u2018hard\u2019 skills students learn on their courses. We refer to the skills we support students to develop as transversal skills, as we believe this better represents the breadth of importance of these skills to both academic and professional success.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Developing transversal skills<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">For example, our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bath.ac.uk\/campaigns\/skills-for-success-programme\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Skills for Success workshops<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> focus on teamwork, problem solving, presentation skills, and professional and clear communication whether writing or speaking. These workshops are convenient, 50-minute, self-contained skills development sessions, that run in-person and remotely and are open access, meaning any student can join, whether they\u2019re based on campus or are studying remotely from another location. These workshops are centred around a practical activity, so students leave each session with a skill they can immediately apply for their own needs.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Next year, we\u2019ll also be launching an updated blended public speaking course, which will focus on developing everyday essential workplace skills such as speaking confidently, being an active listener, and having empathy with others.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In addition to our workshops, we also provide <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bath.ac.uk\/campaigns\/your-digital-skills-and-capabilities\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">a range of online resources<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> which students can access as many times as they need, whenever they need them. These focus on a range of communication skills and useful workplace skills such as managing perfectionism and time management.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Employability Capabilities Framework<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Building on our existing model, next year will see the launch of the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/computingservices.sharepoint.com\/:u:\/r\/sites\/EducationandStudentExperience\/SitePages\/Education-and-Student-Experience-Digest-March-2025.aspx?csf=1&amp;web=1&amp;e=skaMBS\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Employability Capabilities Framework<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">: these are 13 core employment capabilities focusing on transversal skills development. The aim is to encourage students to reflect on, articulate, and demonstrate key skills as they complete their degree programmes, helping them progress successfully into the career pathways of their choice.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Skills Centre makes a significant contribution to the development of those 13 capabilities and it is fantastic that there is greater emphasis on communication, empathy and understanding, as these are human agency skills, which in the digital age are more valuable than ever.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Lifelong learning<\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As The Guardian notes, as \u2018digital natives\u2019 move into the workplace, they need to be better equipped with all the skills needed to succeed in a world that still expects them to pick up the phone, write an email, and give a presentation. We recognise our responsibility in preparing them for employment; it\u2019s our duty to ensure their interpersonal and intrapersonal skills are\u00a0as strong as their technical abilities, and in this way we make an important contribution to students\u2019 lifelong learning.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We were very interested to read The Guardian article earlier this month about higher education students needing to develop soft skills such as empathy and time management to support the development of confidence and be able to articulate their skills...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1962,"featured_media":1550,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[91,63],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1549","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-skills","category-employability"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2025\/04\/Hexagons-800-x-450-px.png","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":538,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2020\/12\/08\/resources-to-help-you-develop-your-digital-skills\/","url_meta":{"origin":1549,"position":0},"title":"Resources to help you develop your digital skills","author":"Kevin Renfrew","date":"December 8, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"In September 2020, the University launched a new digital skills self-assessment tool\u00a0to support the development of students'\u00a0digital skills and capabilities. Our blog Don't get left behind in the digital revolution explains what digital skills are, why they\u2019re so important for your studies and your future career, and what the University\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Digital &amp; GenAI literacy&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Digital &amp; GenAI literacy","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/capabilities-framework\/digital-skills\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Aerial shot of students pointing at a laptop screen.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/12\/dig-skills-aerial.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/12\/dig-skills-aerial.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/12\/dig-skills-aerial.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/12\/dig-skills-aerial.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":497,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2020\/09\/14\/dont-get-left-behind-in-the-digital-revolution\/","url_meta":{"origin":1549,"position":1},"title":"Don\u2019t get left behind in the digital revolution","author":"Kevin Renfrew","date":"September 14, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Today\u2019s Generation Z students are referred to as \u2018digital natives\u2019 \u2013 those born in the digital age who have grown up around smartphones, social media and a host of other technologies that simply didn\u2019t exist until relatively recently. Whilst you may feel reasonably confident about your digital skills at the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Digital &amp; GenAI literacy&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Digital &amp; GenAI literacy","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/capabilities-framework\/digital-skills\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Group of five students working on laptops and smartphone.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/09\/digital-skills.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/09\/digital-skills.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/09\/digital-skills.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2020\/09\/digital-skills.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1787,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2026\/04\/08\/meet-the-new-skills-co-creators\/","url_meta":{"origin":1549,"position":2},"title":"Meet the new Skills Co-Creators","author":"Aneesa Zafar","date":"April 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"We\u2019re\u00a0excited to introduce this year\u2019s Student Co-Creators (SCCs)\u00a0at\u00a0the Skills\u00a0Centre! They are\u00a0current\u00a0University of Bath students\u00a0bringing\u00a0real\u00a0insight\u00a0into student experiences\u00a0and helping us\u00a0improve how we support students\u00a0across\u00a0a\u00a0range of skills support.\u00a0Over the next few months,\u00a0they\u2019ll\u00a0be working on a\u00a0variety\u00a0of\u00a0projects,\u00a0from developing\u00a0new resources\u00a0on\u00a0MySkills, to shaping new Digital and GenAI initiatives and enhancing My Employability Profile. Below,\u00a0you can get to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;student experience&quot;","block_context":{"text":"student experience","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/student-skills-ambassador\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2026\/04\/Untitled-design-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2026\/04\/Untitled-design-2.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2026\/04\/Untitled-design-2.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2026\/04\/Untitled-design-2.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2026\/04\/Untitled-design-2.png?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2026\/04\/Untitled-design-2.png?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1201,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2024\/04\/19\/meet-your-skills-co-creators-2024\/","url_meta":{"origin":1549,"position":3},"title":"Meet Your Skills Co-Creators Team 2024","author":"Lola Osinoiki","date":"April 19, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Introducing the vibrant, new team of Skills Co-Creators based in the University of Bath Skills Centre! We're a dynamic group, each with our own unique backgrounds and passions, all dedicated to empowering students like you. Read on to discover more about each of us and our role. \u00a0 Maddie\u00a0 \u00a0\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;student experience&quot;","block_context":{"text":"student experience","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/student-skills-ambassador\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/04\/estee-janssens-2enBTsIVhUU-unsplash-1-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/04\/estee-janssens-2enBTsIVhUU-unsplash-1-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/04\/estee-janssens-2enBTsIVhUU-unsplash-1-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/04\/estee-janssens-2enBTsIVhUU-unsplash-1-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/04\/estee-janssens-2enBTsIVhUU-unsplash-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2024\/04\/estee-janssens-2enBTsIVhUU-unsplash-1-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":897,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2022\/10\/19\/give-yourself-a-writing-workout\/","url_meta":{"origin":1549,"position":4},"title":"Give yourself a writing workout","author":"Kerry Vevers","date":"October 19, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Here\u2019s an overview of what the Skills Centre\u2019s 1:1 writing support service offers and how it can help you to get the best possible grades for your assignments. \u201cAcademic writing is at the heart of all scholarly activity. During your studies, you will be required to complete a range of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic writing&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic writing","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-skills\/academic-writing\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Student and tutor taking part in a 1:1 writing tutorial.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/10\/writing1-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/10\/writing1-1.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/10\/writing1-1.png?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/84\/2022\/10\/writing1-1.png?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1706,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/2025\/10\/30\/the-recognition-gap-how-digital-badges-are-helping-students-see-their-own-growth\/","url_meta":{"origin":1549,"position":5},"title":"The Recognition Gap: How digital badges are helping students see their own growth","author":"Kevin Renfrew","date":"October 30, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"When excellence becomes invisible Picture this: You have just delivered a confident two-minute presentation. Your hands did not shake (much), you maintained eye contact, and you even managed to inject some humour at exactly the right moment. You navigated your anxiety, structured your argument beautifully, and engaged your audience throughout.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Academic skills&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Academic skills","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bath.ac.uk\/academic-and-employability-skills\/category\/academic-skills\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"University of Bath Digital Badge for Public Speaking Programme. Blue circular badge with white writing showing the University of Bath logo and Digital Badge Programme 2025. 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