Academic Professional SCPI

Course goals

• The goal of this course is to prepare students to act with confidence and integrity as academic professionals, take responsibility for their own personal and professional development, and adopt a proactive stance regarding the job market. The course contributes to five learning objectives:
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• 1. Personal values and professional identity: “Who am I, and what kind of professional do I want to become?”
• Students will be able to analyse their personal values and professional aspirations, evaluate how these shape their evolving professional identity, and articulate a coherent and reflective academic professional profile.
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• 2. Professional domain and stakeholders: “What is the context in which I will operate, and who else is involved?”
• Students will be able to identify key stakeholders in the SCPI domain, explain their roles and interrelationships, and be able to place themselves in the SCPI domain and in relation to key stakeholders.
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• 3. Career roles and opportunities: “What kinds of professional roles are suitable for me?”
• Students will be able to describe a range of academic and non-academic professional roles, compare their competency requirements, and evaluate their alignment with personal interests and professional aspirations.
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• 4. Ethics and professional conduct
• “How do I act responsibly and professionally in complex settings?”
  Students will be able to recognise ethical and professional conduct issues, analyse ethical dilemmas and collaboration challenges in academic and professional contexts, and justify appropriate courses of action using ethical principles and professional standards.
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• 5. Lifelong learning and professional development
• “How do I continue developing beyond this course and degree program?”
  Students will be able to assess their current competencies and learning needs, prioritise development goals, and design a strategic plan for ongoing professional and career development.

Content

Academic professionals are critical thinkers who are able to bridge theory and practice, can apply state-of-the-art knowledge and have (academic) skills to identify, evaluate and resolve societal problems, and do so in an ethical way. Academic professionals adapt to the ever-changing landscape of contemporary social challenges and are committed to continuous, self-directed learning and development.

The aim of the course Academic Professional is to support your development into an academic professional in the field of Social Challenges, Policies, and Interventions (SCPI). It provides a continuous central thread throughout the entire master’s program, connecting the substantive material of the courses, the thesis and internship with your future career aspirations. Throughout this course, you will engage with activities and assignments that provide stepping stones to guide you in becoming the best academic professional you can be. You are encouraged to take ownership of your learning journey.

The course Academic Professional focuses on the professional development of students in the SCPI master’s program, guiding you to identify, explore, and enhance your personal, academic, and professional competencies, interests, skills, and learning needs. In this process, you will actively shape your professional identity. The course also provides many opportunities for job market orientation. You will gain further insights into the various stakeholders in the SCPI field and how they interact, strengthen the effective communication of your interests and competencies, foster connections with possible employers, and reflect on ethical conduct in view of challenges and dilemmas that may arise in the work of academic professionals in the SCPI domain. This course will also assist you in preparing for your master’s internship, refining your master’s thesis ideas, and (re)entering the job market after graduation.