Piloting InBusiness Soft Skill Modules

Objective

Soft skills is one of the important skills gaps identified by our stakeholders in Indonesia. Based on consultations and discussion with various stakeholders, addressing technical skills gap is not enough to close the gap between the demand and supply of skilled labour. With the rapid changes of technological advancement and how people work, soft skills development it is even more imperative to be developed by young people.

With this, we would like to pilot two modules of the InBusiness Soft skills tool to University students.

There are two objectives of piloting the modules:

1. To see whether the module fits the purpose (usefulness)
2. To check whether adjustment to local context are needed.

Background

In Business is a new and innovative learning programme designed by the enterprise department in the ILO Regional Office for Asia Pacific in Bangkok to support development, growth, and enhancement of enterprises through peer-learning networks. The In Business family of tools consists of a wide range of topics divided into four different categories; SME training tools, tools for disaster and conflict settings, manufacturing tools and soft skills training tools.

Working in small groups, participants review business examples, complete activities, and engage in discussions without an external trainer or specialist. This learning process positions participants as both student and teacher and has been designed to strengthen networks while providing access to local expertise, insights, and experience in identifying solutions that will work best in the local context.

The InBusiness learning tools are modular in format, allowing groups to take up the module in any order of preference. Each module sets out techniques, methods, and worksheets to guide groups through practical steps. By reflecting on local examples and sharing existing knowledge and experience, the programme becomes self-tailored to the needs and interests of each group.

The InBusiness Soft Skills Modules

This particular category consist of 14 modules:

1. Vision setting and professional development
2. Problem solving
3. Starting to manage
4. Negotiation and persuasion
5. Creative thinking
6. Teamwork
7. Critical thinking and reasoning
8. Interpersonal communication
9. Managing upwards
10. Time management and self-organization
11. Personal awareness
12. Working in a cross-cultural environment
13. Leadership
14. Public speaking

This modules have so far been piloted in Cambodia, under a youth employment project