Degree Boost is a Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences initiative that empowers students to demonstrate the transferable skills they develop throughout their degree. By earning digital badges and official recognition on their graduate transcript, students can present clear evidence of these skills, helping them stand out when applying for jobs or further study.
Degree Boost gives students across all AHSS degree programmes the opportunity to earn up to seven digital badges which prove they have developed key skills that employers are looking for. This initiative is designed to give AHSS graduates the edge in a competitive employment market.
Students can earn digital badges in areas such as:
- Communication
- Collaboration
- Problem Solving
- Creativity
- Critical Thinking
- Digital Skills
- Sustainability Literacy and Action
Degree Boost is a practical, confidence-building iniative that turns everyday learning into career-ready evidence.
Degree Boost strengthens the competitive advantage of Arts, Humanities and Social Science graduates by:
- Evidencing their transferable skills
- Helping them to stand out in a competitive job market
- Preparing them to confidently talk about their abilities
Recognition That Makes a Difference
Upon graduation, digital badges will appear on students' graduation transcripts, giving them a clear advantage when applying for graduate jobs or further study.
For Arts, Humanities and Social Science graduates, this kind of recognition is especially important. It helps you demonstrate the practical value of your degree and communicate your strengths with confidence.
During the student journey, there are many opportunities to develop transferable skills through:
- Acacemic modules and coursework
- Work placements
- Erasmus
- Volunteering
- Involvement in student organisations
- Off-campus activities
At the Transferable Skills Unit, our aim is to help students to develop and reflect on these skills, and to keep a record of their skills development journey. Students can then use this to boost their degree by applying for digital badges in recognition of transferable skills.
As they progress through their degree, students will gather evidence of their transferable skills in an e-portfolio, . This portfolio becomes the foundation for earning digital badges that are officially recognised on their UL transcript.
To help students to more easily recognise and develop their Transferable Skills, we have developed seven competency frameworks that details what each skill is made up of.
Here鈥檚 how students begin their Degree Boost journey:
- Explore the competency frameworks in the Degree Boost to identify the skills they already have and those they want to build.
- Use the templates provided to submit evidence of skill development through the e-portfolio.
- Earn digital badges and build a personal skills portfolio that showcases their strengths to future employers or educators.
We know that transferable skills are essential, not just at university, but throughout education and into the workplace. Degree Boost supports students in identifying and evidencing these skills through an e-portfolio, allowing them to earn digital badges, and recognition on their UL transcripts.
This initiative enriches the UL student experience, encouraging reflection, confidence, and active engagement, while also providing a meaningful boost when students graduate and enter the competitive employment market.
We welcome opportunities to speak with secondary schools about the importance of transferable skills and how Degree Boost supports students in building them. To arrange a school visit or learn more, please contact us at transferableskills@ul.ie.
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