West Virginia Press Association
ATHENS, W.Va. — Concord University is proud to announce that our history program recently earned the Essential Employability Qualities Certification. This recognition reflects the program’s strong commitment to preparing students with the skills and mindsets they need to thrive in today’s workplace.
QA Commons’ mission is to ensure today’s learners are prepared for the changing dynamics of the workforce and economy. A nonprofit dedicated to bridging the gap between education and employment, the organization is committed to equity and empowering underserved populations, developing solutions that help students understand workplace expectations, building the essential skills to thrive in their jobs, and navigating a career path that leads to social and economic mobility.
“Our majors will graduate with access to badges certifying that they have mastered employability skills that were taught or developed through the major. They include communication, teamwork, critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving, professionalism and responsibility, learning and adaptability, motivation and initiative, and digital literacy,” Dr. Jonathan Berkey, Concord professor of history and program coordinator, explained.
From helping embed Essential Employability Qualities [EEQs] into courses and curriculum to training instructors and staff on employability, and even consulting on existing work-readiness initiatives, QA Commons partners with institutions like Concord and employers to equip students with the skills and opportunities needed to create long-term career success.
To determine CU students’ EEQ standards, QA analyzed Concord History team’s course syllabi, program goals and assessment materials.
As a certified recipient of QA Common’s EEQ review, Concord will receive:
- Certification letter
- Detailed feedback report
- Scoring summary
- Draft of an executive summary to be posted on the QA Commons website
- Logos Concord use on our website and social media
Berkey said only time will tell how much future employers will focus on the so-called “soft skills” involved in the QA Commons certification, but he believed the award could only be a benefit.
“I believe at the very least, they could be talking points/entry points for our graduates to highlight and demonstrate these skills to potential employers,” he said.
