This course includes offline/online classes, practical skill training/project

Eligibility Criteria: Candidates who have completed graduation/post graduation and currently

perusing can apply

Duration: 30 hours (5 weeks)

Course Instructors: Dr Roshan Monteiro and Dr Prithwi

Course Syllabus:

Unit 1: Introduction to life skills Education and Understanding self

Unit 2: Thinking and Communication Skills

Unit 3: Assertive an Decision Making Skills

Unit 4: Problem Solving and Management Skills

Unit 5: Practical Exposure/project

Course Coordinator

Dr Roshan Monteiro

Asst. Professor

Department of PG Studies and Research in Social Work

St Aloysius (Deemed to be University)

Mangaluru

Dr Prithwi M

Asst. Professor

Department of PG Studies and Research in Social Work

St Aloysius (Deemed to be University)

Mangaluru

Course overview

Essential Life skill education is a unique and effective programme which enables

individuals to adopt and deal with demands and challenges of life. Learning life skills will be an

essential tool for survival and capacity development to enhance quality of life. To deal with

issues an individual should incorporate strategies that require higher-level thinking skills such as

inference, prediction, analysis and critical thinking. With the use of critical thinking strategies,

which helps to develop skills such as reasoning, questioning and investigating, observing and

describing, comparing and connecting, finding complexity, and exploring viewpoints and

moreover, Problem solving is an important element of all content areas. Such theoretical

orientation helps them to explore their beliefs and attitudes.

This certificate course aims at preparing a cadre of youth with self-worth, power and

competence in all walks of life. This course is designed for imparting skill-based education and

practical experience which enables them to become more assertive, communicate effectively

with others by developing good listening skills and learn to handle stress, deal with

disappointments and setbacks and address issues. Life Skills, Personality Development,

Leadership, Training and Training Methodologies, are some of the areas offered as part of the

Programme. Life Skills Education brings in capacity to the learners to face the challenges of the

new millennium, ruled by globalization and market forces.

A Certificate Course

on

Essential Life Skills Education

Offered by

Department of Social Work

School of Arts and Humanities

COURSE OUTCOME

1. To promote self-awareness and emotional well-being by helping learners to understand their

personality, emotions, and values for personal growth and resilience.

2. To develop effective communication and critical thinking skills to enhance interpersonal

relationships, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.

3. To equip learners with strategies to manage stress, time, and crises through practical coping

mechanisms and self-regulation techniques.

4. To foster conflict resolution, assertiveness, and teamwork to build positive social

interactions, leadership qualities, and collaborative competencies.

5. To encourage the application of life skills through experiential learning such as individual or

group projects, enabling real-life integration and reflection.

Module 1: Introduction to life skills education and Understanding self

Concept and Importance of Life Skills: Definition and Scope of life skills, WHO

framework on life skills and Role and importance of life skills in holistic

development

Self-awareness: definition, types, and relevance, and Self: Self-concept self-esteem,

self-confidence, and Body image

Module 2: Thinking and Communication Skills

Thinking Skills: Critical thinking: definition, process, and applications., Creative

thinking: Techniques and tools (brainstorming, mind-mapping)

Effective Communication Skills: Verbal and non-verbal communication , Listening

and Observation Skills: Active vs Passive , objective and subjective, Barriers to

effective communication, Building rapport and interpersonal relationship,

Presentation and Public Speaking Skills and Digital Communication and Netiquette

Module 3: Assertive an Decision Making Skills

Assertiveness: Passive, Aggressive, and assertive behavior, Techniques for assertive

communication, Setting boundaries and saying "No" respectfully and Assertiveness

in academic, social, and professional settings

Decision Making: The decision-making process: Steps and strategies, Factors

influencing decisions: values, goals, emotions and Ethical decision-making

Module 4: Problem Solving and Management Skills

Problem Solving Methods: Steps in effective problem solving: Identification,

analysis, solution generation, and evaluation. Creative approaches: Brainstorming,

lateral thinking, and Mind mapping

Stress and Crisis Management: Understanding stress and crisis: Definitions, types,

and triggers, Short-term and long-term impact on mental health and functioning

techniques: Mindfulness, yoga, breathing and physical exercise

Coping Mechanisms: Positive (adaptive) coping strategies: Problem-focused and

emotion focused, Negative (maladaptive) coping patterns: Avoidance, denial,

aggression,and Building personal resilience and healthy routines

Emotional Regulation: Understanding emotions and behavior, Techniques for

managing emotions, and Cultivating emotional intelligence for personal and social

effectiveness

Conflict Resolution and Management: Nature and sources of conflict: Personal,

interpersonal, and Group conflict management styles: Avoiding, accommodating,

compromising, competing, collaborating, and Effective resolution strategies:

Communication, negotiation, and empathy

Module 5: Practical Exposure/project

Individual/Group Projects: Tasks promoting teamwork, problem-solving, and

creativity.

Self-Exploration Tools: Journaling, reflective exercises, and personality tests for self-

awareness.

Case Studies: Real-life scenarios to apply life skills practically.

Reflection & Reporting: Short reports on personal learning and development.

SWOT Analysis & Feedback: Identifying strengths, areas for growth, and receiving

feedback.

REFERENCES

Ajay Shukla. (2007). Stress management. Delhi: Unicorn Books Pvt. Ltd.

Bharath, S., & Kumar, K. V. K. (2010). Empowering adolescents with life skills education in

schools – School mental health program: Does it work? Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 52(4),

344–349.

Bhugra, D., Till, A., & Sartorius, N. (2013). What is mental health? International Journal of

Social Psychiatry, 59(1), 3–4. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764012463315

CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education). (2013). Life skills education resource manual –

Class VI to X. New Delhi: CBSE. https://www.theaccordschool.com/wp-content/uploads/1_Life-

Skills-Class-VI.pdf

CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education). (n.d.). Adolescence education programme & life

skills development: Teachers’ book (pp. 1–50).

https://www.cbse.gov.in/cbsenew/documents/TEACHERS%20BOOK%201-50.pdf

D M Pestonjee. (1992). Stress and coping. New Delhi: Sage Publications.

Dr Alex, K. (2013). Soft skills. New Delhi: S. Chand and Company Pvt. Ltd.

Dr Giridhar, K. V. (2016). Soft skills for business. Bangalore: College Book House.

Dr Mani, A. (2016). Personality development and soft skills. Bangalore: Sapna Book House.

Gladding, S. T. (2017). Counseling: A comprehensive profession (8th ed.). Boston: Pearson.

Indian Association for Life Skills Education. (n.d.). IALSE.

http://www.ialse.in/oldsite/indexca97.html?q=node/36

Kaitleen, M. G. (2007). Cognitive psychology (Indian edition). Delhi: Akash Press.

Leena, S. (2008). Communication skills. New Delhi: Prentice Hall of India.

Life skills based education. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Life_skills-

based_education

Life skills education for children and adolescents in schools. (1997). Geneva: World Health

Organization.

http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/63552/1/WHO_MNH_PSF_93.7A_Rev.2.pdf

Life skills education for children in difficult circumstances – My work book. (n.d.). Bangalore:

NIMHANS.

Life skills module for CBSE. (n.d.). http://www.cbse.nic.in/cce/life_skills_cce.pdf

Mangal, S. K. (2004). General psychology. New Delhi: Sterling Publications Pvt. Ltd.

Mc Millian, S. (2007). How to be a better communicator. New Delhi: Kogan Page India Pvt. Ltd.

Rao, M. C., & Virand, M. N. (2011). Life skills education for young adolescents – Indian

experience. Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, 37(Special Issue), 9–15.

Rao, R. N. (2016). Improve your skills. Jaipur: Sathyam Publishers.

Singh, S. R. (2011). Soft skills. New Delhi: APH Publishing Corporation.

COURSE OUTCOME

1.  To promote self-awareness and emotional well-being by helping learners to understand their personality, emotions, and values for         personal growth and resilience.

2. To develop effective communication and critical thinking skills to enhance interpersonal

    relationships, decision-making, and problem-solving abilities.

3. To equip learners with strategies to manage stress, time, and crises through practical coping

    mechanisms and self-regulation techniques.

4. To foster conflict resolution, assertiveness, and teamwork to build positive social

    interactions, leadership qualities, and collaborative competencies.

5. To encourage the application of life skills through experiential learning