Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi

Udupi, Aug 31:  Dr Ronald Anil Fernandes, deputy news editor and bureau head at Deccan Herald, Mangalore said, “Soft skills matters more than hard skills these days, a person may be extra ordinary and extremely brilliant, but he or she may be disliked due to his or her poor soft skills.”

He addressed the students as he delivered the valedictory speech on the concluding day of the UGC sponsored national level conference on soft skills and employability organized by Crossland College in association with Little Rock institute for educational leadership, was held at Brahmavar on August 29 and August 30.

 “A person with good soft skills would have a better chance in getting employed, earning a better income, making friends and sustaining better relationships," he said.

With a few anecdotes he emphasized the need for students to learn these skills in order to be successful in this competitive world.

Professor Mathew C Ninan, director of Little Rock institute for educational leadership highlighted the need for teachers to keep a smile on their face. He humorously remarked that the teachers have a special smile for their principals.

He said, “The manner in which one smiles at others makes a difference.  A teacher who enters a class with a smile helps the teacher to be more approachable towards the students who inturn spread the smile."

Dr P S James of TAPMI at Manipal and Sheela Rachel Abraham of SNEHAM at Kochi engaged in sessions on emotional intelligence and the role of teachers in creating employability.

Dinesh Kini, senior staff correspondent at Indian Express; John Clarence Miranda, principal of Pompei College at Aikala; Ajit D’Souza, principal of Mahesh  College at Mangalore; Vinaya Rajath from St Mary’s College at Shirva; Jayakumar Shetty from SDM College at Ujjire, professor Hemalatha from Besant  College at Mangalore and professor Joselyn Lobo from Roshini Nilaya School of Social Work  at Mangalore conducted various sessions and were present on the occasion.