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.

  • 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.
  • Procurement - a suite of procurement courses are available for those who are involved in procuring goods and services for the University.  See our A to Z course listings for more information.

Communicating & Influencing

Gets message across in a persuasive way.

  • Giving Presentations - this course 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.

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 Training for Reviewers (Professional Services) - this workshop looks at competencies, the PDR process and getting the best out of PDRs and includes helping reviewers to get the most out of PDRs by adopting a coaching style.
  • 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.