This course introduces graduate students, postdocs, and advanced degree holders to the concept of transferable skills—versatile abilities that are valuable across a wide range of careers. Through four focused modules, learners will explore what transferable skills are and gain a foundational understanding of three essential skill areas: cross-cultural communication, project management, and leadership. Each module offers practical examples, self-reflection opportunities, and curated resources to help learners begin developing these skills and recognize their relevance in both academic and professional settings.



Identifying Transferable Skills
This course is part of Accelerate: Professional Development with an Advanced Degree Specialization
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June 2025
8 assignments
See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

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There are 5 modules in this course
This module introduces the concept of transferable skills—skills that can be applied across a wide range of career paths and professional roles, including academia, industry, nonprofit, government, and entrepreneurship. The module also previews the three key transferable skill areas covered in this course: leadership, project management, and cross-cultural communication. These core areas were selected not only for their individual importance, but also because they reinforce one another and are critical to success in graduate school and beyond. You'll be encouraged to consider how these skills connect to your professional goals and how they might be integrated into your Individual Development Plan (IDP).
What's included
1 video2 readings2 assignments1 plugin
Collaborative leadership is a key to progressing in your career. This module provides engaging exercises for you to assess your leadership strengths and identify goals for growth. It recommends accessible opportunities for building your leadership skills.
What's included
1 video1 reading2 assignments
This module provides a concise overview of essential project management skills, perfect for beginners or those looking to refresh their knowledge. You'll learn the foundational concepts of project management and the skills necessary to be successful. You will be encouraged and challenged to build the skills now which will be necessary to apply these techniques to your future employment opportunities.
What's included
1 video2 readings2 assignments
In today’s interconnected world, the ability to communicate effectively across cultural differences is an essential skill for both academic and professional success. This module explores foundational concepts of culture and cross-cultural competency, introducing key metaphors that help us understand culture’s visible and invisible dimensions. Learners will reflect on their own cultural identities and communication styles, and gain practical strategies for navigating diverse cultural contexts with empathy, openness, and respect. Drawing from interdisciplinary perspectives, the module emphasizes that cross-cultural communication is not a checklist, but a lifelong process of learning, unlearning, and adapting.
What's included
1 video1 reading2 assignments
What's included
1 discussion prompt
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University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
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Frequently asked questions
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
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When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
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