UNIVERSITI TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN

UTAR Soft Skills Development Certificate (USSDC)  

                     The UTAR SOFT SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATE (USSDC) is a certification system which recognises students’ achievements and efforts to improve themselves in the areas of communication, leadership, teamwork, cultural intelligence, entrepreneurship skills, critical thinking, creativity and problem solving skills, integrity, digital literacy as well as lifelong learning and information management. It involves experiential learning in training programmes, interaction sessions and extra-curricular activities.

2009 - 2010

5 core components


1. Communication & Language

2. Integrity & Ethics

3. Emotional Intelligence, Teamwork & Leadership

4. Creative & Strategic Thinking

5. Entrepreneurship












2011 - 2017 

7 core components


1. Communication & Language Skills

2. Critical Thinking, Creative Thinking and Problem Solving Skills

3. Emotional Intelligence and Teamwork Skills

4. Moral and Professional Ethics

5. Leadership Skills

6. Lifelong Learning and Information Management 

7. Entrepreneurship Skills 






2018 - May 2023

10 core components


1.   Communication & Language Skills

2.   Cognitive Skills

3.   Complex Problem Solving

4.   Critical Thinking

5.   Emotional Intelligence, Cultural Intelligence and Teamwork

6.   Moral and Professional Ethics

7.   Leadership Skills

8.   Lifelong Learning & Information Management 

9.   Entrepreneurship Skills

10. Digital Literacy


June 2023 - current

10 core components


1.   Communication & Language Skills

2.   Cognitive, Adaptability & Innovative           Skills 

3.   Complex Problem Solving & Decision              Making

4.   Critical and Analytical Thinking

5.   Emotional Intelligence, Cultural Intelligence and Collaborative Skills

6.   Moral and Professional Ethics

7.   Leadership Skills

8.   Growth Mindset & Lifelong Learning 

9.   Entrepreneurship Skills

10. Digital Literacy and Technological Skills



USSDC Grading System

Below are the USSDC points rewarded to students who have attended soft skills training 
programmes or participated in the co-curricular or extra-curricular activities relevant to the components listed above:  

5 Components



Platinum           126 and above

Distinction         116 - 125 

Merit                  101 - 115 

Pass                  100


7 Components



Platinum           141 and above

Distinction         126 - 140 

Merit                  101 - 125 

Pass                  100


10 Components



Platinum           151 and above

Distinction         126 - 150 

Merit                  101 - 125 

Pass                  100


For USSDC Registration, please refer to the steps.
For more information, please visit UTAR Portal.