Assistant Lecturer Yasmin Sarmad Hassan, from the Department of Vertebrates, participated in a workshop organized by the Women’s Affairs Division at the University of Baghdad, in collaboration with the Center for Continuing Education and with support from the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The workshop was titled “Employing Soft Skills in Various Life Situations and Promoting New Skills in the Surrounding Environment.”
The training workshop aimed to introduce the concept of soft skills and their role in achieving academic excellence among women. It also addressed the definition of soft skills, the balance between hard and soft skills, the types and determinants of soft skills, and ultimately, the enhancement of soft skills among successful female academics.
Key recommendations included integrating soft skills into professional development programs, offering regular workshops on leadership, communication, and time management, and establishing dedicated mentoring programs. The workshop also emphasized connecting junior female faculty members with successful academic role models, promoting a culture of appreciation and balance, implementing flexible policies that support work-life harmony, and recognizing soft skills within promotion criteria.
This initiative contributes to one of the Sustainable Development Goals—Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth.
