University Portfolio: Personal and Professional Development (BUSI1701)

This portfolio assignment, completed for a Personal and Professional Development (PPD) module, presents a student's self-reflection on academic skills, employability, and well-being goals. The assignment utilizes Kolb's Learning Cycle to structure reflections on concrete experiences, reflective observations, abstract conceptualizations, and active experimentation. The student analyzes their suitability for an HR manager role, highlighting communication and time management skills, and provides examples of teamwork and handling challenging situations. The portfolio also details the student's strategies for improving academic performance, developing leadership skills, and adopting a healthier lifestyle. The student identifies areas for improvement, such as communication and problem-solving, and outlines steps to achieve their goals, including better time management, enhanced communication, and participation in team activities. Finally, the student concludes by emphasizing the importance of these developments for future career prospects and overall well-being.

Personal and
professional development

Table of Contents
Portfolio task (1)..............................................................................................................................1
Portfolio task (3)..............................................................................................................................2
Introduction......................................................................................................................................2
Reflection on academic skills development activity..............................................................2
Reflection on employability goal...........................................................................................3
Reflection on well being Goal................................................................................................4
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5
Appendix..........................................................................................................................................6
SWOT analysis.......................................................................................................................6

Portfolio task (1)
The current task is based on the job role of a HR manager within Barclays plc which is a
British multinational investment bank and financial services company having its headquarter in
London, England.
Question 1
Why do you think you are suitable for this role? Briefly outline your relevant skills and
experience and how they are relevant to the role?
I am suitable for the current job role of HR manager as I had got good communication and time
mangemt skills that are viable to influence and motivate workers and perform the duties of HR
manager. Beside this, high level of creativity and problem solving skills are also posed by me tat
viable to support my job roles and responsibilities as a HR manager of a company.
Question 2
Tell us about a time when you worked in a team. What was your role and what did you
achieve?
At the time of my graduation and academic learning I had worked in team for various
presentation and research work. The role that was assigned to me during a team based research
project is associated with and comprises of collection of data. I had made use of effective data
collection techniques and methods for collecting most authentic and relevant data for my project
with the help of both primary and secondary sources in order to achieve and accomplish my role
in the team in an effective manner. Thus, I achieved my task of collecting viable information for
my team project.
Question 3
Describe a situation where you didn't achieve the outcome you wanted. How did you handle
the situation and what would you do differently?
During my Graduation I was assigned a group activity to present a poster and video on a topic
given by my teacher but at that time due to lack of sufficient and effective ICT (information and
communication technology) I was not able to present an effective presentation and video on the
assigned topic. Further, lack of effective coordination and communication is also seen in my
team members. Thus, a timely coaching and training is taken by me in Filed of ICT to develop
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effective computer knowledge to become more able and competent to achieve all assigned duties
and task in a more effective and better manner. Further, application of effective leadership style
is also made by me to handle the situation of chaos and confusion in team members in an
effective and different manner.
Portfolio task (3)
Introduction
Under this current project a reflective study is covered which set out my academic,
employability and well being goals. The reflective study is provided with the help of Kolb’s
Learning Cycle that is leading a synthesizes goal-directed and behaviour learning theories that
helps an individual for effectively creating and reflecting on the learning cycle by valuing
ongoing process and ongoing nature of learning. A description about all the four stages of Kolb’s
Learning Cycle are made which comprises of concrete experience, reflective observation,
abstract conceptualities and active experimentation to show an effective reflection on leading and
selection of selected skills.
Reflection on academic skills development activity
The academic goal that is selected by me comprises of competing by graduation with a at
least 75% marks as it is important and viable for me to have better career and growth option in
future. The main reason for choosing of completing my gradation with distinction marks is based
on the fact that it is viable to set out better career option and enhanced level of job opportunity
for me in futures. I had observed that having good mars in graduation support better carer and
enhanced opportunity therefore this, goal is set out by me. For achieving this target of good
marks I need to develop many academic skills like time management, stress management,
reading and writing skills, note taking skills, research skills, communication skills.
To accomplish and achieve by academic goals many vital steps are taken by me which
comprises of having a more organised and systematic way of learning along with leading more
effective time management to find out sufficient time to improve my academic knowledge. For
improving my time management skills many Gantt charts and times tables are prepared by me
that ensures a better management of time through use of statistical method and systematic
presentation of all activities that I needed to do in a day. Apart from thus, effective styles of
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writing and reading is accomplishment and practises by me through providing more time to
critical reading and understanding. Proper and timely notes are also maintained and developed by
me as it support more effective learning and better remerging of things for longer time period.
Beside this, regular participation in all academic programmes and activities is taken by me along
with leading timely preparation of presentation, poster and videos to ensures and have
improvement in my communication and other interpersonal skills required to achieve the set goal
of completing graduation with good marks.
The things that went well comprises of effective presentation of all study material along
with effective time management and note taking strategy that had supported better learning and
accomplishment of my academic goal of completing my graduation with at least 75% marks. The
thing that went less effective and hampered my learning process and achievement of set
academic goal consists of ineffective communication skills. This ineffectiveness in my
communication level has affected by academic performance as I was not able to communicate
and interact affectively using the academic presentation and while their research and interactive
activity. Further stress management is also an issue for me which would be encountered and
resolved by me through leading proper planning and organising of things. Thus, it essential for
me to improve my communication skills that could be line with interacting with larger number of
pole along with having proper training and coaching to improve my presentation and
communication skill to achieve and accomplish my set target and goal of getting minimum of
75% marks in my graduation.
Reflection on employability goal
The employability goal that has been selected by me is associated with leading effective
development in my leadership skills and competencies. The reason for selecting this
employability goal is based on the fact that leadership skill is most important and viable for an
individual’s to have enhanced employability chances and better career options. Leadership
competencies are also required to effectively work in a team along with leading motivating and
influencing other for better outcomes and results. The most effective vital competencies required
to meet the goals of effective leadership consist of having ability to communicate well, motivate
their team, handle and delegate responsibilities, listen to feedback, and have the flexibility to
solve problems in an ever-changing workplace. Apart from this, effective leadership skills are
also required to have a sense of active listening along with ability of strategic thinking and skills
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along with leading improved creativity and self confidence level. Thus, a refection can be made
out that leadership skill is the most viable employability goal for me to achieve better career
option and growth opportunity.
The steps and possible action taken by me for achievement of goal of leading
improvement in my leadership skill comprises of taking regular part in team activity which
ensures a practical way to learn about effective team prcatises. During working in a team, I got
an enhanced knowledge about the way in which work is properly bifurcated among various
teams through use of Belbin Teams Role model along with understanding that how an effective
communication level is maintained among along team members for better accomplishment of set
goals. Apart from this, an effective coaching and learning about various forms and types of
leadership styles and theory is also made by me which ensures effective achievement of my goal
by leading better development of leadership skills. During my prcatises and courses, I learnt that
leadership skills plays a vital role in attracting and influencing people thus, lead more positive
outcomes and enhanced employability capability to get a better job in future. During working in
the teams my communication skills worked well along with effective development of my
confidence and creativity level as I needed to perform a number task and job like research and
interaction with other people for effective presentation and completing assign jobs thus, my
creativity and presentation skills really went. My problem solving skills had created some issues
along as I find it difficult to resolve or overcome a difficult situation without guidance and
motivation. Thus, I needed to work on my problem solving skills to accomplish the set goal of
leading improvement in my leadership skills. The steps and strategies that can be taken by me to
overcome and resolve the inefficiency in my problem solving skills comprises of focusing on
most suitable solution through clearly defining the problem and main cause of issue along with
using my knowledge and understanding in a more active way.
Reflection on well being Goal
The well being goal that is selected and chosen by me is comprising of focusing and
emphasising on improving my lifestyle habits. The main reason for choosing current goals of
emphasising and focusing on good health comprises of the fact that a healthy lifestyle is vital as
healthy people are better learners, and academic achievement bears a lifetime of benefits for
health. Apart from thus, a direct connection between healthy behaviour and academic is also seen
thus improvement in lifestyle and healthy habits would also lead to better academic
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achievements. Apart from this, an analysis can also be drawn that an improvement in lifestyle
and healthy habits makes a person more fit, energetic and at reduced risk for disease thus, lead
more emphasis on living a long and healthy life through avoiding risk of disease to focus
effectively on better career development and all other goals and targets of life.
Various steps that can be under taken by me to have improvement in my lifestyle and
living a healthy life comprises of eating a nourishing and balanced diet along with having proper
sleep. Apart from this, regular exercise and remaining away from stress full activities and gossip
are also vital aspects for living a healthy life and to have improvement in lifestyle habits. It has
been also learnt by be that effective management of time and having discipline in conducting and
leading out all activities is also from out to be a vital part of healthy lifestyle. Among all these
prcatises, I had managed to have a regular and proper notorious diet but not able to manage daily
exercise and it is quite difficult to manage all my activities comprising of taking class, study and
other activities thus, sufficient time was not given to exercise. Therefore, a better time
management and organisation all activities according to their priority is needed by me so that a
sufficient amount of time can be bifurcated and provided to all activities in more effective
manner. This, effective time management and discipline in all activities would lead out and
ensures improvement in my lifestyle habits and direct me towards accomplishment of a more
healthy and positive routine which would ensure achievement of my well being goal.
Conclusion
On the basis of above discussion and reflection an analysis can be made that improvement in
my graduation grading along with better leadership skills and improvement in lifestyle is needed
to have enhanced employability and better growth options in career in futures. Therefore, I need
to emphasis more in development of theses key areas through the help of effective coaching and
training. Apart from this, actively taking part in team works and focusing more on
communication and networking with other would lead to better development of my
communication, leadership and other interpersonal skills to achieve better growth option and
employability in future.
REFERENCES
Books and journal
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Hildebrand, J., 2018. Bridging the gap: A training module in personal and professional
development. Routledge.
Mashizume, Y. and et. al., 2020. Experiences within a cross-cultural academic exchange
programme and impacts on personal and professional development. British Journal of
Occupational Therapy, p.0308022620929887.
Schmidt, M.K., 2017. Personal and professional development through internship engagement. In
Field-based learning in family life education (pp. 39-49). Palgrave Macmillan, Cham.
Ahmed, F., 2018. Leadership and management influences on personal and professional
development and group dynamics: a student’s experience. Nursing children and young
people, 30(2).
Lim, H.A., 2018. Service-Learning: Implications for the academic, personal, and professional
development of criminal justice Majors. Journal of Criminal Justice Education, 29(2),
pp.237-248.
Klobes, G., 2018. Maximizing the Educational Investment with a Required Personal and
Professional Development Program for Business Majors. Journal of the Academy of
Business Education, 19.
Taylor, L., 2017. The Personal and Professional Development of Novice English Teachers
Working in South Korea'. Faces of English Language Education: Teachers, Students,
Pedagogy, pp.245-259.
Rowe, G., 2017. PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. The Handbook for
Nursing Associates and Assistant Practitioners, p.40.
Atamanova, I.V. and et. al., 2019. Modern university youth: key factors of personal and
professional development: a cross-cultural study.
Mitin, G.V. and Galina, Z.N., 2018. Psychological programs for the professional evolution of
students and teachers in the context of the personal and professional development of a
polysubject community. Contemporary University Education, 3(3), pp.56-72.
Hopkinson, C., 2016. Personal and professional development through reflective practice.
Becoming a Nurse: Fundamentals of Professional Practice for Nursing, p.430.
Valmas, M.M., Himrich, S.J. and Finn, K.M., 2020. Women’s experiences of supervision and
professional development. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 30(1), p.130.
Appendix
SWOT analysis
Strengths Weakness
 Effective communication and time
management skills are my strength.
 My creativity skills also support my
ability and strength to come up with
new and more ideas.
 Ineffective stress management and lack
of ICT skills are my weakness that
often takes the passion out of my
presentations.
Opportunity Threats
 Better development of leadership skills  High level of competition is biggest
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leads out enhanced opportunity for me
through improving my employability
skills.
 Improvement in lifestyle habits are also
leading opportunity thorough making
me more fit and energetic to
accomplish all set goal in effective
manner.
threat for me and my future career.
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