Graduate Student Professional Development
Conceptual Framework
In its initial development, this program was predicated on the results of an internal study that highlighted five professional development skills — or "competencies" — that are needed by graduate students regardless of academic discipline: communication, leadership, teaching and instruction, professional adaptability, and self-awareness. These competencies are described below.
- A competency in communication entails the ability to write and speak effectively. This most obviously manifests itself in preparation of scholarly publications, but it also includes the ability to facilitate small group and professional meetings, negotiate issues and contracts effectively, and successfully interview.
- A competency in leadership entails the ability to lead others. This includes the ability to articulate a vision, motivate others, manage human and fiscal resources, plan and organize, delegate, and affirm the ethics of one's profession.
- A competency in teaching and instruction is more than the ability to teach in a classroom. More broadly, this entails the ability to facilitate the learning of others in a variety of venues, including staff development activities, professional workshops, and clinical settings.
- A competency in professional adaptability is the ability to apply theory and technical skills from one's academic discipline in the workplace. This includes the ability to recognize and accommodate change in the field and modify one's professional practice accordingly, developing an understanding of organizational culture and politics, working well with colleagues, and the ability to apply academic theory and concept.
- A competency in self awareness is the ability to recognize and appreciate one's own values, beliefs, and interests. Honest self-awareness forms the framework through which personal and professional options are viewed and choices are made. These include understanding career options, matching personal values with career goals, and balancing professional and personal commitments.