Collecting Virtual Seminars
Successful completion of the third smalltalk allows 'Virtual Seminars', which are easiest to come by via Smalltalk (they're now (v4) occasionally available via mission rewards or 'yellow ping' lockboxes too).
They are available for various potentially important skills, such as Engineering, Leadership and Morale: a Seminar can be used to add one star to the related skill of any one of your hired NPC's primary, bold-highlighted skills (eg only Engineering for Engineers, but Leadership or Navigation for a Captain), to a maximum of 5 stars. Exactly which Seminar you may be offered relates to the primary skills or the type of the NPC in question so it is somewhat random, in the sense that it is random as to which NPC may begin a smalltalk. Boarding experience for Marine Officers can only be gained through.. heh.. experience, and it's slow (around +(2d6+2)% at L4 per successful boarding), so be warned!
Seminars are only available through smalltalk after the Give (craftable) Gift option if the first smalltalk was completed with a score of 8+ points in 2 minigames and if the second minigame session was completed with a score of 4+ points in all 3 minigames. A higher (maximum?) score in the second minigame stage can increase the range (number) of seminars offered, depending upon the smalltalked NPC's class. <Player> can only pick 1 seminar as the prize, no matter how good the score.