DA4066 - Personal Development and Professional Competence

You will learn through tutor-facilitated workshops, skills practice, action learning, tutor guidance and feedback and independent directed and self-directed learning. Importantly, you will also learn at work, through reflecting on your experiences and applying your knowledge from the module to your practice in the workplace. The workshops will introduce you to theories and concepts and allow you to discuss with the tutors and your peers how these relate to your own work based experiences and practice. A peer group action learning set will enable you to discuss how you can apply your learning into your workplace practice. The workplace provides an opportunity for you to put your own knowledge and skills into practice and review your learning with your manager/mentor and your guidance tutor.
Your learning is supported by a Teaching and Learning Plan, offering guidance on reading to prepare for workshops and help with the completion of the assessment. Within this plan, there are also suggested learning activities, which guide you in your independent learning. These activities allow you to reflect and evaluate your knowledge and skills in this area.
You will be building a portfolio of evidence that illustrates your development as a manager throughout the first year of the programme. This portfolio will enable you to demonstrate how you have applied your learning from across all first stage modules into your workplace practice.

As part of this or another first stage module, you will be introduced to a range of academic skills which will support your learning whilst in Higher Education and provide the foundations on which you will build these skills over the next three years.
Taught sessions including lectures and seminars will introduce you to theory and concepts, whilst also enabling direct interaction with the teaching team and with your peers and you will receive formative feedback throughout the year both in and out of sessions. Importantly, you will be allocated an individual personal tutor, who will provide you with support and feedback on your academic and professional development. CMDA students will meet with their academic coach and workplace mentor four times during the year at your employer organisation, to support you in completing the requirements for the end point assessment. You will be expected to invest time in directed learning in preparation for taught sessions. Guidance will be provided on this within the sessions, as well as on the Teaching and Learning Plan. The eLearning portal will also be used to encourage individual and group discussions, as well as to provide access to session materials as well as additional materials. The Teaching and Learning plan will provide a number of prompts and guidance to support you academically. Support will also include opportunities to gain feedback from workshop tutors, guidance tutors and peers.
Moreover, the e-learning portal will also houses all the module learning materials, workshop resources, interactive activities, assessment details and various other support facilities which are provided by the University.
In addition, in order to assist you in developing knowledge, you will have access to the University’s library facilities, including extensive electronic resources, eBooks and electronic academic journal articles.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:
To develop your knowledge business management and leadership practices. (MLO1)

To develop your appreciation of the potential value of business management and leadership knowledge as a means of developing your own effectiveness and performance. (MLO2)

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

To develop your ability to engage in self-reflection as means developing your management competence (MLO3)

To enhance your understanding of qualities and transferable skills necessary for contribution as an effective manager in your business/ organisational environment. (MLO4)

Personal Values Attributes
Your ability to identify and understand the cultural and ethical contexts in which your business/organisations operates. (MLO5)

Mapping to CMDA Outcomes
Knowledge
6.1.1 Evaluate different types of communication and the application of these their strengths and weaknesses in different contexts.
6.2.1 Determine how to maintain personal presence
6.2.2 prepare and present to large groups
6.3.1 Analyse own interpersonal skills and take responsibility to further develop these.
10.1.1 Evaluate theories of learning styles and apply to self and others
10.2.1 Evaluate models of
emotional intelligence and their use in the workplace
10.2.2 Evaluate the concept of
social intelligence and its use in the workplace
10.2.3 Explain the importance of
active listening and open
questioning and demonstrate their uses in working with others
10.5.1 Determine and apply stress management techniques in the workplace to ensure personal well-being
11.1.1 Assess a broad range of techniques for managing time
11.1.2 Review own time management skills and create and implement strategies to improve
11.1.3 Evaluating goal setting theories and models
11.1.4 Set achievable goals/objectives for self and monitor progress towards these
Skills – be able to:
6.4.1 Show effective use of all forms of communication
6.5.1 Use active listening and open questioning to structure
conversations and discussions and demonstrate the use of these to challenge others when appropriate
9.4.1 Demonstrate useful contributions to a team environment
10.3.1 Analyse own performance, identifying learning and development needs
10.3.2 Devise and implement strategies to address learning and development needs
10.4.1 Explain factors that influence impact on others, both positive and negative, and demonstrate a
positive impact on others
10.5.1 Determine and apply stress management techniques in the workplace to ensure personal wellbeing
10.5.2 Demonstrate confidence in knowledge of core values and
reflect these in own performance.
11.2.1 Demonstrate use of time management techniques and tools
11.2.2 Effectively manage own workload to achieve objectives
11.2.3 Align personal development objectives to the organisational strategy.
11.2.4 Demonstrate on-going commitment to personal development.

1.Individual Personal
Development Plan (PDP) (50%)
An individual presentation (10 minutes) summarising your key personal learning plan, identifying insights emerging from your learning on the module for semester 1 and outline goals, and personal actions for semester 2 and 3.
Addressing MLO 3 and MLO 4.

2) In small groups: Formative feedback from peers and tutor on progress of personal PDP

3) Personal Journal (50%)
A reflective journal to evidence your sustained learning and development, and engagement with the module and your experiences in applying your learning into your workplace practice (2,000 words)
Addressing MLO1, MLO2, MLO3, MLO4, MLO5

None

None

This is the first in a series of core modules that run throughout the programme to support you in your personal and professional development as an existing or aspiring manager. This module introduces you to the learning approach that will be used throughout the programme and it will enable you to develop your skills and knowledge of management. This module also provides a vehicle for you to make sense of your learning from all modules in stage one of the programme and apply this learning to your professional practice in the workplace. Through engaging in the workshop sessions and the associated learning activities, you will develop your self-awareness and self-management, interpersonal skills and your abilities in working with others. The module will also strengthen your capacity as an independent and work-based learner.