Definitions of self-management skills, tips and examples of how you can support your students to develop them Self-management involves individuals taking responsibility for themselves, their work and wellbeing. It supports individuals to set goals and work towards them independently. Within self-management two specific skills are important: Career management and lifelong learning. 1. Career management What is it? Career management is the ability of individuals to set goals, formulate plans and to adapt them in the light of changing circumstances, related to their career development. It involves individuals having awareness of their aspirations and abilities, the ability to choose between options and then make and carry out plans to achieve their goals. Why is it important? It’s increasingly likely that individuals will have many different jobs over the course of their careers, and some may have “portfolio careers” (a situation where an individual holds multiple jobs at one time) or pursue self-employment. Individuals are also living and working longer and therefore need the skills to manage multiple career transitions and to support them to achieve work-life balance throughout their working lives. How can you support its development? Tips: Use employers and alumni at different career stages as guest speakers, in panel sessions or in case studies. This is a way to motivate and inspire students about the range of career options and to help them understand the importance of career management Similarly you can share examples from your own or colleagues’ career development if you feel this is relevant and appropriate Consider including a careers related assessment as part of your course, for example have students submit a CV or PhD proposal Support your students with discussions in this area but be ready to signpost to specialist services when needed. You’re not expected to be an expert in career management and specialist support is available from the Careers Service You will find more tips on supporting students with this area on the career management skills and insights page of the curriculum toolkit: Curriculum toolkit: career management skills and insights Examples: In the School of Engineering students taking the 'Professional Issues for Mechanical Engineers' course submit a CV in response to a job advert as one of their assessments The School of Mathematics uses guest speakers and the course ‘Facets of Mathematics’ supports students with gaining insights into the areas of mathematics and where they would like to work 2. Lifelong learning What is it? Lifelong learning generally means education beyond school and university, for ongoing personal and professional development. It can include formal training and self-directed learning and it can be done online, face to face or by blended (hybrid) learning. It’s useful to make the distinction between upskilling and reskilling in this context. Upskilling means deepening existing knowledge and skills, whereas reskilling means extending skills into a new area. Why is it important? Given the increased likelihood that individuals will have multiple jobs over the course of a career and be working longer, lifelong learning will be crucial in supporting these career transitions and in learning new skills for future occupations. How can you support its development? Use active teaching methods as this will engage students in the learning material and encourage them to take their learning further. Examples include flipped classrooms, peer discussions and case studies. You’ll find more tips on the active teaching methods page of the curriculum toolkit: Curriculum toolkit: active teaching methods Use employers and alumni as guest speakers or in case studies to highlight the importance of ongoing development and lifelong learning as this wil encourage students to take responsibility for their own lifelong learning Encourage students to set themselves goals for their academic and personal development and to review these on a regular basis. This will set a good basis for lifelong learning Highlight how students can take their learning further beyond your course by highlighting relevant development opportunities including resources such as LinkedIn Leaning and MOOCs Have student assess their skills against relevant industry frameworks and standards related to your subject. This can be a way for students to identify their strengths and areas for development Examples: In the School of PPLS (Psychology) students have the option to attend a series of careers seminars featuring graduates from the School discussing their career paths across a wide range of professions. Discussions include the importance of lifelong learning and continuing professional development This article was published on 2024-04-02
