The Need for More Power Skills Training in Technical Degrees

The Need for More Power Skills Training in Technical Degrees

Technical degrees like engineering, computer science, and finance have traditionally focused on developing students' quantitative and technical skills. However, in today's complex and rapidly changing workplace, transferable power skills like communication, collaboration, and leadership are equally crucial for long-term success.

A friend with an engineering degree realized early in his career that he lacked critical power skills. His technical knowledge was strong, but he needed help to effectively convey ideas, manage teams, and think critically about organizational relationships. Power skills must be learned and practiced like technical skills – they are not innate.

The advantage of power skills is that they stay relevant and transferable across industries and career changes in a way technical skills may not. While the hard technical skills required in a field can shift rapidly, the ability to communicate, organize, and influence others will always be in demand.

Higher education institutions that offer technical degrees should emphasize teaching human resources, organizational behavior, and leadership. Some ways they can better integrate power skills training are:

- Requiring more humanities, communication, and business courses as part of the core curriculum to build communication and people skills.

- Offering more leadership, management, and ethics electives or minors.

- Incorporating team projects, presentations, and real-world case studies into technical courses.

- Providing mentorship and internship programs that allow for the practical application of power skills.

A foundation in technical and power skills is required for today's technical experts to get a job and thrive as leaders and innovators. By elevating power skills training, technical degree programs can graduate even more successful professionals ready to advance in their careers.

Avila University’s College of Innovative Professional and Graduate Studies recently launched three new graduate technology degrees, each with a management core.? Inclusive of the deepening of a student's technical skills, the programs were explicitly designed to build technology leaders who can develop those power skills so they can add significant value to an organization from day one.?? Every day, I see very competent individuals who have spent their academic and work careers focused on honing their technical skills but then struggle to lead a team, communicate a change process, plan effectively, or collaborate across the various functions of an organization.?? Regardless of an individual's hard skills, their ability to work with and lead people will be the real reason for their success.

Check it out: https://www.avila.edu/program/graduate-stem-technology-programs/