Why are good English and communication skills important?

All University of Melbourne students are expected to be effective communicators. No matter what type of student you are, communication skills are essential for academic, professional and social success.

Communication skills are employability skills

All graduates of the University of Melbourne are expected to have highly developed communication skills.

In Australia, communication skills (oral, written, interpersonal and teamwork) are frequently reported by employers as the most commonly assessed, most important and most in-demand skills when recruiting new staff (see Burning Glass, 2017; Australian Association of Graduate Employers, 2017).

Find out more about communication skills

Watch the video below to find out more about communication skills, including what they mean to different people and some of the complexities that come with effective communication.

What does communication mean to you?

Understanding and effectively using various forms of communication is a vital skill for success at university and in the workforce. This video explores the notion of communication, and what it means to different people.

Academic Skills offers a number of programs and resources to help you build your English and communication skills

Find out which ones are right for you