WBL - Managing Own Professional Development
| Module title | WBL - Managing Own Professional Development |
|---|---|
| Module code | BEF2005DA |
| Academic year | 2023/4 |
| Credits | 30 |
| Module staff | Dr Alison Sydenham (Convenor) |
| Duration: Term | 1 | 2 | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration: Weeks | 48 weeks over the year |
| Number students taking module (anticipated) | 48 |
|---|
Module description
This module is focused on establishing oneself as a Financial Service Professional and provides an important foundation upon which to further develop your career. Drawing upon academic guidance, professional development coaching and workplace mentoring you have a wealth of inspiration and advice to guide and support your own professional development planning.
Exploring the essential requirements of professional practice, you will develop and refine the skills you have built up over the course of the degree and consider your behaviours in relation to working as a Financial Services Professional. Based within professional codes of conduct and organisational policies and processes, you will develop your personal leadership approach to excellence in your role, identifying and building upon personal values, skills, strengths and experience.
This module is a part of the formal process of portfolio building in which you are required to evidence the knowledge skills and behaviours set out in the level 6, degree apprenticeship standards for the Financial Services Professional. The personal development that you undertake and the activities, assignments and reflections that you produce, all offer material for your final EPA professional portfolio and panel interview.
Module aims - intentions of the module
This module offers a series of advanced activities aimed at developing the skills and behaviours required for practice in financial services. It seeks to pull together learning from across a variety of sources in support of proactively managing one’s own professional learning and development. Through constructive feedback from both academic and workplace mentors, the apprentice will critically reflect on their progress, developing and refining their skills and behaviours in order to establish themselves as a Financial Services Professional. This module culminates in the production of a portfolio that draws together and evidences personal and professional development.
Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)
ILO: Module-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 1. Develop critical arguments both of self and of module-related theories that support and deepen learning.
- 2. Reflect upon professional practice to identify, evaluate and modify own behaviours using self-analysis and constructive feedback. Recognise where learning originates and translate new knowledge into own PDP.
- 3. Compile, manage and edit a portfolio of evidence in support of own progression against the relevant Degree Apprentice learning objectives.
ILO: Discipline-specific skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 4. Builds/maintains strong, positive working relationships with clients/colleagues/suppliers as appropriate. Consistently supports colleagues and collaborates to achieve results. Takes a leadership role in the team when appropriate. Acts as a role model and supports others in their development as appropriate (S25,26,28,32)
- 5. Demonstrate sound understanding of the organisations values and professional standards and how these are evidenced through your role. (K3)
- 6. Time Management (S21) Proactively plans and organises your work and time, clearly identifying priorities to meet commitments/KPIs/ deadlines.
- 7. Problem Solving and decision making (S22): Evaluates information quickly and draws accurate conclusions. Assesses a problem from multiple angles to ensure all relevant issues are considered. Gathers the appropriate facts and evidence in order to make decisions effectively, using a structured approach. Responds appropriately to unexpected events.
- 8. Communicating and Networking (S15,23-24) Uses strong interpersonal skills and communicates well through a range of media, using language that is meaningful to the recipient. Communicates complex information clearly. Listens actively to understand needs and adapts their style to the recipient. Builds ethically sound and trusted relationships with internal and/or external clients/customers to form the basis of a long-term partnership.
ILO: Personal and key skills
On successfully completing the module you will be able to...
- 9. Honesty and Integrity (33-36) Truthful, sincere and trustworthy in your actions. Shows integrity by doing the right thing, demonstrating the organisations values. Maintains appropriate confidentiality at all times. Visible role model, and coaches others where appropriate. Follows and promotes appropriate organisational procedures and policies.
- 10. Adaptability (37): Adapts positively to changing work priorities and patterns and is flexible to the needs of the organisation. Demonstrates willingness to adapt approach to assist organisation and individuals to manage priorities as circumstances change, new tasks need to be done, or when business requirements change. Responds well to change.
- 11. Innovation and Creativity (41): Demonstrates a curious and questioning approach in your work. Is creative, innovative and enterprising when seeking solutions to business needs, whilst understanding relevant boundaries e.g. Financial Services Regulations.
- 12. Resilience and Enthusiasm (38-40): Displays energy, determination and enthusiasm in the way you go about your role, dealing positively and with determination when setbacks occur, or when managing difficult situations.
Syllabus plan
Through a series of advanced online learning activities, applied exercises and reflective assignments finance professionals can expect to develop and refine their management and leadership skills; professional effectiveness and critical reflection. In addition, through portfolio building, they are expected to demonstrate and evidence the behaviours of honesty and integrity, adaptability, resilience and enthusiasm, innovation and creativity and attention to detail.
Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)
| Scheduled Learning and Teaching Activities | Guided independent study | Placement / study abroad |
|---|---|---|
| 66 | 234 |
Details of learning activities and teaching methods
| Category | Hours of study time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Seminars (Master classes) | 9 | Taking place during scheduled face-to-face masterclasses. There will be at least 9 hours of taught input. |
| Seminars (Webinars) | 9 | Taking place during scheduled face-to-face webinars, there will be at least 9 hours of taught input. |
| Online activities and PDP coaching | 48 | Ongoing PDP coaching throughout 48 weeks of the online module. Drawing upon academic guidance, professional development coaching and workplace mentoring. |
| Applied Professional Development | 234 | Guided and independent learning which will be applied to the work context in consultation with a manager from the organisation. It will include a mixture of reading material, self-development exercises, online discussion forums, self-assessments, videos, and 360-degree feedback. |
Formative assessment
| Form of assessment | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drawing from your learning journal, produce four 500-word critical reflections which demonstrate at least 4 of the listed ILOs for the module. | Equivalent to 2000 words | 4,6,7 | Academic lead will provide written and verbal feedback. |
| Draft reflective essay | 1000-1500 words | 1,2,5,9 | Academic lead will provide written and verbal feedback. |
| Draft critical reflection | 2000-2500 words | 1-12 | Academic lead will provide written and verbal feedback. |
Summative assessment (% of credit)
| Coursework | Written exams | Practical exams |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | 0 | 0 |
Details of summative assessment
| Form of assessment | % of credit | Size of the assessment (eg length / duration) | ILOs assessed | Feedback method |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Reflective essay demonstrating Sound understanding of the organisations values and professional standards and how these are evidenced through your role | 25 | 1500 words | 1,2,5,9 | Academic tutor will provide written feedback. |
| 2. 1,500 word personal brand webpage/document showcasing your knowledge, skills and behaviours | 20 | 1500 words | 1-12 | Academic tutor will provide written feedback |
| 3. Write a critical reflection with an accompanying portfolio of evidence demonstrating how you have met 4 areas of the Apprenticeship standard | 55 | 2,500 words (equivalent to 4,500 words with portfolio) | 1-12 | Academic tutor will provide written feedback |
| 0 | ||||
| 0 | ||||
| 0 |
Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)
| Original form of assessment | Form of re-assessment | ILOs re-assessed | Timescale for re-assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| As per original | 1500 words, 25% | 1,2,5,9 | 6 weeks |
| As per original | 1500 words, 20% | 1-12 | 6 weeks |
| As per original | 4500 words or equivalent, 55% | 1-12 | 6 weeks |
Re-assessment notes
Defer – as first time
Refer – capped at 40%
Indicative learning resources - Basic reading
Recommended text:
Cottrell, S. (2015) Skills for success: personal development and employability. Palgrave Macmillan
Day, T. (2018) Success in Academic Writing. Palgrave Study Skills. Palgrave Macmillan.
Kahneman, D. (2012) Thinking Fast and Slow. Penguin: UK
Miller, D. (2014) Brilliant Personal Effectiveness: What to know and say to make an impact at work. Pearson: UK
Supplementary text:
Cottrell, S (2017) Critical Thinking Skills; Developing Effective Analysis, argument and reflection.
Palgrave Macmillan:
Paul, D., Cadle, J., & Thomas, P (2012) The Human Touch: Personal Skills for Professional Success. BCS: UK
Winstanley, D. (2009) Personal Effectiveness. Excel Books: UK
ELE– Web-based and electronic resources will be posted and made available throughout the module
| Credit value | 30 |
|---|---|
| Module ECTS | 15 |
| Module pre-requisites | None |
| Module co-requisites | None |
| NQF level (module) | 5 |
| Available as distance learning? | Yes |
| Origin date | 26/02/2019 |
| Last revision date | 05/01/2022 |
