Key courses by competency

We have linked some key courses to the Professional Services Competencies.

Further guidance is available from our online resource centre You e-Develop which has a designated section 'Support for Competencies' where you will find useful tips and information on all aspects of the University competencies; and a "Handy Guide" which signposts key resources.

Commercial Awareness

Understands the business environment in which the University operates and considers the wider impact of their decisions and actions.

  • Goals and Targets of the University - this session will help you to understand the University's Top 10 agenda and aims to achieve top 100 internationally.
  • How the University Works - this session will help you understand how the University makes its decisions and the structures in place to support this including University Management, governance, dual assurance and faculties.
  • ASPIRE - Accrediting Staff Professionalism in Research-Led Education (ASPIRE) is  a framework for developing and accrediting staff who teach and support students’ learning in our research-led environment.

Communicating & Influencing

Gets message across in a persuasive way.

  • Presentation Skills (Module 1 and Module 2) - these two modules are designed for anyone who needs to know the key issues and wants to develop his or her presentation skills and thereby increase in confidence.
  • Business Writing - this series of workshops will help develop your own style of business writing that will capture your readers attention and deliver the information in a professional and effective manner.
  • Managing Meetings Workshop - this is an interactive workshop exploring the mechanics and realities of meetings.

Continuous Improvement

Keeps an open mind and adapts to changes in the working environment.

Customer Focus

Understands customer needs and builds effective customer relationships.

  • Customer Service Workshops (Foundation and for Practitioners) - these workshops are designed to develop a greater understanding of what good customer service is and looks like with both internal and external customers.
  • Customer Service Principles for Service Managers - this is a workshop for managers examining underlying principles of customer service and how empirical models can help achieve service excellence.
  • Cross-Cultural Competency Training - this programme was developed to support college-based staff in building their cross-cultural competence so that they can work more effectively in an increasingly internationalised environment.
  • Culture Awareness Training - this workshop is designed to support staff to work more effectively with people from different cultures.

Developing Yourself & Others

Builds own and others’ confidence, knowledge and skills.

  • Developing Yourself and Others - this one day programme will give you a firm foundation in the skills and understanding needed to develop yourself and to support the development of others
  • PDR Reviewer Skills Session - this is an interactive workshop to help reviewers get the most out of PDRs by adopting a coaching style.
  • PDR Briefing Session - this is a seminar-style session about the new competencies, PDR process and getting the best out of PDRs.
  • Springboard - this is a national career and personal development programme designed especially for women.
  • Career Development Framework - to help you see what is the right development for you at different stages of your career.

Planning & Organising

Prioritises and orders activities to get results.

  • Time Management (Module 1, Module 2 and Module 3) - this series of 3 bite size modules on time management will enable you to increase your own efficiency, to be more effective and to think the right way.
  • Delegation Skills - this workshop aims to explain what delegation is, how to use it and to enable managers (and staff in general) to delegate effectively.
  • Managing Meeting Workshop - interactive workshop exploring the mechanics and realities of meetings.
  • Project Management Training - this course is designed to be a blend of theory and hands-on practice so participants can take away the tools and approaches and immediately apply them to their own situations.

Teamwork & Collaboration

Works with others towards shared goals cooperatively and collaboratively with other teams.

  • Assertiveness (Module 1 and Module 2) - this programme is for anyone who wants practical help in analysing what is happening when they cross paths (or swords) with a 'difficult person' and wants some strategies for standing up for their rights without violating the other persons.
  • Community Challenge - as a member of staff, the University will allow teams one paid day in a 12 month period to undertake volunteering in the community.
  • Team Tailored Training

These courses are only indicative but offer you a summary of the sort of training opportunities that might be appropriate depending on which competencies you need to be developed in.