Originally published 24 June 2003

The successes and achievements of students on the Warwick Skills Certificate programme were celebrated at a presentation on Monday 23 June. 18 of the successful students were presented with their certificates at the event.

The Warwick Skills programme was developed to allow students to learn and develop skills beyond their degree subject. It is designed to develop competence, confidence and credibility in a range of essential graduate-level skills. Typical modules include Time Management and Teamwork, Drawing the Right Brain Way, Communication Skills or IT Skills. Since the programme began there have been over 600 completed portfolios of work.

The latest cohort of students to complete the programme were presented with their certificate by Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor John Jones who expressed his praise for the skills programme.

"The certificate is a genuinely successful and immovative skills programme," he said. "Students want to do it, employers value it and other organisations want to copy the themes in it. It is recognition for high level skills and marks particular achievment by students."

Dr Kay Sanderson, Warwick Skills Certificate Co-ordinator, explained the benefits of the programme: "The certificate programme provides a way of articulating more general skills and a means of demonstrating them. It gives students an edge and lets them talkabout their whole person, not just their degree." Kay also praised the commitment of the 30 tutors involved in the programme: "It's been very positive how committed they've been."

Students receiving their certificates at the presentation were also enthusiastic about their experiences. Tim Edwards said: "I've found the range of modules is extremely good and it's valuable to show that you have the skills to do these things in business." Another student, Peter Wong, said: "It's unique. It gives you an opportunity to evolve and keep on developing. Growth and development are ongoing processes and I know now that there are no barriers to my development."

The skills programme brings together students from across all academic disciplines and backgrounds. Dr Stephen Hill, Academic Director, said: "It's brought together Arts, Sciences and Social Sciences, home and international students. It provides a chance to work creatively alongside students from other disciplines."

Associated Images:
Making the presentations

More information about the Warwick Skills Certificate programme is available at
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/cll/skills/