Workshop on “Personality Development & Soft Skills”

Chandigarh, March 24, 2023: University Institute of Fashion Technology and Vocational Development in collaboration with Central Placement cell and IIC Panjab University organised a two days’ workshop on “Personality Development & Soft Skills” on 21st and 22nd of March 2023. Around 50 students from UIFT & VD, Department-cum-Centre for Women's Studies and Development and Institute of Social Science Education and Research and Research scholars attended the workshop.

Dr. Anu H. Gupta, Chairperson of UIFT &VD, expressed her delight for an enthusiastic response of the students for the workshop.  She emphasized the importance of effective communication and soft skills and their role in reaching professional objectives. She complimented the Central Placement Cell's efforts in organizing the programme, which provided practical insights into fundamental components of personality development and soft skills.

Prof. Meena Sharma, Honorary Director, Placement Cell, Panjab University, apprised the students about the activities carried out by the Central placement cell and how students can collaborate with the Placement cell to obtain placements. She urged students to gain as much as possible from the various sessions of the workshop, which could aid them in future placements.

Prof. Deepti Gupta, Department of English and Cultural studies, resource person for the first session talked about the finer details of Personality Development. She began the session by addressing the students about attitude cultivation and encouraged the students to reflect on oneself with an open and critical eye. Her talk further weaved concepts like” Know Thyself” and ‘knowing the attributes of personality’. Further elaborating, she stressed on the holistic development of attributes like Physical, Emotional, Cognitive and Spiritual awareness. Her session was thoroughly enjoyed by the students and gave them insights into the potential of self-development. Students were deeply engrossed in the activities during the session, especially ‘the self SWOT analysis. Prof. Deepti also appreciated the participants for their whole hearted participation and interaction.  

In the second session, Dr. Jayanti Dutta, Honorary Director UGC-HRDC, Panjab University, discussed the significance of thinking and exercise with the participants. Students were given numerous examples to facilitate comprehension. It is essential to have a purpose in life that serves as motivation or inspiration for the individual. She added that one should concentrate on one or two things in life as opposed to more and become an expert in that area. The session was very interactive.

During the second day of the workshop, Mr. Sahil Arora- an aptitude Mentor from the City, assigned the students numerous exercises, such as storytelling, which increased interaction amongst the participants. In addition, he covered a wide range of topics such as how to introduce oneself correctly, how to create a Resume, how to increase vocabulary, how to raise confidence, how to engage an audience, etc.
 
In the fourth and last session, Navneet Kalsi, a management professional presented the students with insightful information regarding interview skills, including personality, confidence, body language, and communication abilities. She emphasized that every student should develop the practice of writing down their thoughts. She provided helpful advice on interview attire, clothing colour coding, and preparations prior to an interview. She instructed the participants on how to successfully interact with the interviewer and the significance of body language during an interview. Ms. Navneet Kalsi offered real-world examples to illustrate the difficulties that students may encounter during interviews.

The two days’ workshop was a comprehensive learning experience for the students that prepared them for their future careers. The students found all the sessions of the workshop to be well-organized and informative, enhancing their soft skills and personality development.

One of the Master’s students who attended the workshop stated, “This workshop was an excellent opportunity for us to learn about the key factors that matter in interview skills, including body language, communication skills, and dressing appropriately. It was a valuable learning experience, and we look forward to applying these skills in our future career.” The workshop was organized by Gargi, Guest Faculty; Ginni, JRF; Bharti, JRF and Akanksha, JRF, UIFT & VD.