Undergraduate Course: PALs Leadership Development (BUST08034)
Course Outline
| School | Business School |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This module is designed to enable registered Student PALs Leaders to obtain additional academic credit for their involvement in Peer-Assisted Learning Schemes (the credit gained is additional and cannot be used to replace any course credits undertaken within a student's degree programme) . The purpose of the module is to introduce Student Leaders to the necessary skills, knowledge and strategies to facilitate an efficient team and become an effective Leader. During the course Student Leaders will attend training and workshops, be assigned tasks with their Interdisciplinary Learning Buddy or ILB, participate in observations, undertake supervision and complete a reflective E-portfolio on their learning and development as a Student Leader. |
| Course description |
Students taking this course will develop their expertise as Student Leaders by learning the necessary skills, knowledge and approaches needed to become confident, self-aware, effective and inspiring leaders. Throughout the course, students will develop their own personal presence, as well as communication, facilitation, problem solving and professional skills by undertaking a variety of exercises, group work and self-reflection. These are designed to introduce students to the interpersonal skills required in mentoring and leading. These attributes also improve employability and are in high demand in the contemporary job market.
Topics
1. Understanding Leadership
2. Understanding Yourself as a Leader
3. Creativity and Innovation
4. Problem Solving
5. Communicating with confidence, understanding assertiveness and successful negotiation
6. Creating personal presence and the importance of emotional intelligence, empathy and resilience
7. Creating a movement and making an impact
8. Building motivated and committed teams
9. Articulating skills and graduate leadership development
10. Reflection, change and development
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
| Not being delivered |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of the principles and practices of Peer-Assisted Learning.
- Students will be able to identify and apply relevant professional and/or personal skills and attributes, such as facilitation, effective communication and problem-solving, to effectively undertake and develop the learning experience as a PALS Leader.
- Students will be able to evaluate and critically reflect upon their approach in relation to the learning and development achieved and the impact this has had on student participants.
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Research & Enquiry:
- An essential part of a Student Leaders role is to identify, define and analyse problems, supporting the group to find their own answers
- Student Leaders must exercise critical judgment in selecting topics/areas to cover and the appropriate learning styles for the group allowing the members to reach a new level of understanding
- An elemental task for Student Leaders is to postulate key questions and encourage the group members to exercise rational enquiry when attempting to find their own answers
- A critical initial task of a Student Leader is to assess existing understanding and knowledge limitations within the group and support them to set their own targets and routes to further acquisition
Personal & Intellectual Autonomy:
- Student Leaders are encouraged to be creative and imaginative thinkers, using innovative methods, new ideas, and ways of thinking to encourage the group to reach their own academic potential
- Student Leaders are encouraged throughout their training to hone their ability to identify core processes and strategies for learning, which the group can utilize to their benefit
- The essence of PAL is to foster in students the ability to be independent and autonomous learners, who take responsibility for their own academic journey
- Throughout the PAL training Student Leaders are encouraged to respond effectively to unfamiliar problem and contexts through role-play, case-studies and reflective practice
Personal Effectiveness
- Student Leaders are trained to make effective use of oral, written and visual means to negotiate, facilitate and communicate understanding within the PAL group
- Student Leaders use communication tools to collaborate with and relate to others through the groups, virtual learning environments and the social spaces which often follow academic meetings
- Through their voluntary participation in the PALS programme it is clear the leaders recognise the benefits of communicating with others beyond their immediate environments
Communication skills
- It is the role of the Student Leader to identify and appreciate the knowledge and talents possessed within the group and to support them to create a safe, reciprocal learning environment.
- It is the role of the Student Leader to be responsive, flexible and proactive in facilitating the learning of the PAL Group.
- Student Leaders are tasked with being able to flexibly transfer their learning, skills and abilities to be utilised by the group while still supporting them to find their own answers
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| Special Arrangements |
This course is available to registered PALs Student Leaders only in 2nd and 3rd years. Quota: 25 Student Leaders. |
| Keywords | leadership,personal presence,facilitation,professional skills |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Susan Murphy
Tel: (01316)51 5548
Email: |
Course secretary | Mrs Margot Morton
Tel: (0131 6)51 5251
Email: |
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