University Degree: Reasons, Skills Development, and Study Plans

This essay explores the multifaceted reasons behind pursuing a university degree, encompassing personal interests, career advancement, social life, and financial aspirations. It delves into the core academic skills cultivated through higher education, including communication, time management, reading comprehension, essay writing, and critical thinking/problem-solving. The essay further outlines the development of a structured study plan, incorporating both short-term and long-term goals, along with a detailed breakdown across different skills and timelines. Finally, the essay references relevant sources to support the arguments presented.

Essay
1

Table of Contents
1) What are main reasons for studying a degree in university?...................................................3
2) What core academic skills can be developed and why they are important?...........................3
3) Develop study plan with short and long term goals................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8
2

1) What are main reasons for studying a degree in university?
Each student needs to acquire some knowledge and skills which enable them in their career
growth and development. The growth is both in personal and professional way. However, there
are some other reason as well that is defined below :-
First is many students go to study degree of their interest. This means that they want to
gain knowledge about something new (Farisi, 2016 ). In school they learn many subjects which
help give insight to them about what each subject relate to. Therefore, to study higher in that
particular subject or interest, student opt to go in university and pursue the degree. For example-
student who have interest in politics can graduate in political science.
Another reason for studying in university is to develop a better career in future. Usually
student look forward to earn money in future. So, for this they need better jobs and high pay.
This can only be achieved by pursing a professional degree of doctor, lawyer, etc. Thus, in
university they learn practical skills and knowledge to earn money. The main aim is to get a
better employment in future.
One more reason is that student pursue degree to enjoy social life and make friends. It is because
school life is different from college life. So, student likes to study in college and enjoy it as well.
They all come from different background and caste (Kivimäki and Meriluoto, 2018).
It can be analysed that there are many reasons for studying in university. Some might
want to pursue their interest and others want to fulfil their dreams. However, some other reasons
identified are studying degree in college is 83% said to get a better job, 74% said that they want
to learn the things of their interest, 70% said to earn more money and 61% said to gain general
education and ideas.
2) What core academic skills can be developed and why they are important?
A student learns various types of skills and gain knowledge about other things as well. In
studying degree student can develop and learn various core academic skills. The skills are both
soft and hard skills (Soft skills you develop at university, 2017). These learning skills depends on
degree of student and his or her interest. But the core skills are similar in every degree. It is
defined as :-
Communication – It is the core skill that can be developed by student. It involves how to
communicate with others and in what way. Basically, in this student can gain knowledge about
formal and informal type of communication (Nelson and Sandberg, 2017). Also, they can learn
3

about face to face, oral communication as well. This skill is important as it allows them to
interact with others. So, in future they will be easily able to communicate with friends, managers,
etc.
Time management – This is another skill that student can develop in university. Here, they can
learn about how to manage time, develop schedule, etc. Beside this, they get to know that how to
manage time and what are various ways of doing it. This enables their ability to complete work
on time. It is important as it will help them to manage their daily routine. In future the skill will
be useful in professional career as well (Stoten, 2016).
Reading – This is also a core skill that is developed in university. The student can learn and
inherit reading abilities and writing skills. They can improve reading speed, way and techniques
of how to read and write. It is important because skill will be useful in reading books and gaining
knowledge.
Essay writing – Student can learn written skills in order to write essay, report and assignment.
They can develop writing abilities in academic work. Furthermore, student can gain knowledge
about use of grammar, punctuation, words, etc. the skill is important as student will be able to
write articles, essay, etc. on different subject or topic.
Critical thinking and problem solving – in this student can learn how to solve problems and
what decision is to be taken. they can develop critical thinking and problem solving skills. They
can get knowledge about models, concepts, etc. to be applied. However, some practical skills can
also be gained in it (Webb, 2019)
3) Develop study plan with short and long term goals
The study plan provides an insight on how skills and knowledge can be developed. It
contains goals, resources, etc. the plan is as follows :-
Short term goals:-
Skills Jan Feb March April May June July Aug. Sept Oct. Nov. Dec.
Comm
unicati
on
Mond
ay-
Wedn
Thursd
ay-
Saturd
4

esday ay
Time
manag
ement
Entir
e
mont
h
Mon
day-
Wed
nesd
ay
Thurs
day-
Saturd
ay
Entir
e
mon
th
Entire
mont
h
Thurs
day-
Satur
day
Readin
g
Mo
nda
y-
We
dne
sda
y
Thur
sday
-
Satu
rday
Critical
Thinkin
g and
proble
m
solving
Thursd
ay-
Saturd
ay
Monda
y-
Wedne
sday
Thur
sday
-
Satu
rday
Mond
ay-
Wedn
esday
Thu
rsd
ay-
Sat
urd
ay
Mon
day-
Wed
nesd
ay
Entire
mont
h
Mon
day-
Wed
nesd
ay
5

Long term goals are :-
Skills 3- 6 months 1 year 1-2 year 2 year 2-3 year
Comm
unicati
on
Monday-
Wednesday
Thursday-
Saturday
Friday
Time
manag
ement
Jan march June July Thursday-Saturday
Readin
g
August
September
Critical
Thinkin
g and
proble
m
solving
Thursday-
Saturday
Monday-
Wednesday
Thursday-
Saturday
Monday-Wednesday
Thus, through study plan, it will be easy for develop skills and knowledge. It will also
help in acquiring knowledge of model, theories, etc. that can be applied. Moreover, by evaluating
short term goals, changes can be made in long term plan.
6

7

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Farisi, M.I., 2016. Developing the 21st-Century Social Studies Skills through Technology
Integration. Turkish Online Journal of Distance Education, 17(1), pp.16-30.
Kivimäki, V. and Meriluoto, S., 2018. Holistic Perspective to Individual Study Plan: Personal
Development Project Plan. Studies in health technology and informatics, 256, pp.514-
526.
Nelson, A. and Sandberg, M., 2017. Labour-market orientation and approaches to studying–a
study of the first Bologna Students at a Swedish Regional University. Studies in Higher
Education, 42(8), pp.1545-1566.
Stoten, D.W., 2016. Studying for a higher education qualification without going to university: an
insight into students’ decisions to study in post-16 colleges. Research in Post-
Compulsory Education, 21(1-2), pp.9-19.
Webb, D.M., 2019. Reference: Study Plan Determination for the Lowell Hydroelectric Project.
Online
Soft skills you develop at university, 2017. [online] Available through : <
https://www.topuniversities.com/student-info/careers-advice/five-soft-skills-you-develop-
university >
8