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Workplace communication skills are vital for graduate success, yet they are often defined and assessed in very different ways by academia and employers. This three-part global discussion series brings both perspectives together to explore how communication skills are described, prioritised, and evaluated for recruitment and in higher education.

Across the sessions, participants will debate definitions and priorities of workplace communication skills, examine whether any mismatch exists between classroom practices and workplace expectations, and collectively reflect on solutions that could connect teaching, learning, and assessment with the real communication demands graduates face as they enter the workforce. The series aims to build shared understanding and practical strategies that better prepare graduates for the realities of global professional communication.

Facilitator: Kamini Taneja, British Council India

Information on all three webinars is provided below. You can now register for the first session – the link is available in the following section.

Workplace communication is described in many different ways, from ‘soft skills’ and ‘communication skills’ to ‘employability skills’. For educators, these terms influence curriculum design and teaching priorities, while for employers, they shape recruitment practices and workplace expectations. This session will examine how definitions differ across sectors, whether key communication skills that are prioritised in the job are clearly conveyed to graduates, and if current assessments both in recruitment and higher education truly reflect communicative competence. Together, academics and industry voices will identify the skills that matter most and consider how both sides can work toward clearer, shared priorities.

Speakers:

  • Amol Padwad, Former Director, Centre for English Language Education, Ambedkar University Delhi
  • Yap Zu Hui, Director, Strategy & Growth, Montfort Care
  • For the graduate perspective, a guest panellist bridging the gap between academic preparation and industry reality

Key takeaways:

  • Recognise the lack of shared language around ‘workplace communication’ and understand how this ambiguity can lead to misalignment between curriculum intentions and workplace realities.
  • Gain insight into which communication skills are most valued and evaluated in recruitment and early-career roles, while recognising that priorities vary across industries and regional contexts.
  • Reflect on whether current academic assessments of communication mirror the ways communication is used and evaluated in the workplace.
  • Engage in a dialogue with HE, industry and graduate voice for developing a better understanding of shared priorities for workplace communication.

Thursday February 12 13:00 GMT (UTC+0) 

Watch the recording

Academia and industry often measure English communication skills in very different ways. Universities rely on written exams, formative tasks, and sometimes standardised tests, while employers depend on interviews and/or verbal ability measured through employability tests. Frameworks like the CEFR and other standardised measures are possibly inconsistently applied across both settings. This session examines where teaching, assessment, and workplace practices diverge, asking how we can more effectively capture communicative competence across contexts. Through dialogue between educators and employers, participants will identify the gaps and explore strategies including the use of standardised and shared assessment practices to better prepare graduates for the communication demands of the workplace.

Further details coming soon.

How can educators and employers work together to ensure graduates are prepared for real-world communication demands? This session brings academia and industry perspectives into conversation, inviting the participants to share experiences and examples from their own contexts and highlighting practices that have effectively developed and assessed graduate communication skills. Participants will collaboratively reflect on ideas and frameworks that could be used for preparing graduates with workplace-ready communicative competence that is relevant and applicable across different workplace contexts.

Further details coming soon.

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