How do we bridge the gap between childhood and the workforce? What exists between those worlds? Higher Education needs emotional intelligence like all school settings. So how does EQ fit into the Higher Ed?

EQ in schools has measurable success. There is a large and growing body of research that shows that understanding and being sensitive to emotions leads to healthier relationships, greater self-awareness, and other essential traits that make for successful adults.  It has also become clear that EQ is important in the working world. Companies are now increasingly interested in hiring employees with high EQ as they tend to be more productive, better at handling pressure, and working well with others.

Recently educators, administrators, students & researchers from 89 countries joined in the first ever virtual conference on emotional intelligence in higher education called EQ.EDU: Moving SEL into Higher Ed. Here’s what participants learned about the value of EQ beyond the k-12 educational setting.

Many educational leaders around the world believe that EQ skills are critical for helping college and graduate students, young and old, to succeed. But can these skills can be just as beneficial for educators?

Developing EQ competencies can help faculty become more effective leaders, teachers, and colleagues and can help fight stressors such as disengagement, burnout, and challenging student issues.

According to the faculty panel present, university leadership should promote events and create opportunities for faculty to deepen their EQ. Navigating the field of higher education is challenging and the cultural competence of the faculty is critical for the community’s success.

Dr. Jensen, an EQ Pioneer, President of Six Seconds, and Professor at Notre Dame de Namur University, believes that emotional intelligence can deepen a university’s community. The current and future success of any college campus centers on the strengths of its people and communities – and what better a way to grow those strengths than with EQ?

When colleges develop their community’s emotional intelligence, diversity, equity, and inclusion prosper – critical values for any college committed to social justice.

Dr. Jensen believes that every interaction leaves an exchange of emotions and that emotions are more contagious than the common cold, which begs the question: What trace emotion will you leave in your interactions with students and colleagues?