Professional and Academic Skills Development: Comprehensive Report

This report delves into the importance of academic and professional skills in business and management, emphasizing the role of skills like time management, research, computer operations, critical thinking, communication, leadership, problem-solving, and teamwork. It reflects on a self-approach to personal learning and development, highlighting transferable skills such as decision-making, problem-solving, time management, critical thinking, and information and communication technology skills. The report concludes that focusing on professional development and strategic planning is essential for students in their academic life, underscoring the value of guidance from teachers and professors. It also includes a curriculum vitae and an action plan for further development, showcasing areas like conflict management, team management, managerial skills, and leadership.

Professional and
academic skills
development

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................4
Importance of academic skills in business and management......................................................4
Importance of professional skills in business and management.................................................4
Reflect on self approach to personal learning and development, ...............................................6
The transferable skills already developed, or seek to develop during academic studies...........6
CONCLUSION ...............................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
Appendix........................................................................................................................................10
Curriculum Vitae.......................................................................................................................10
Action plan................................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Personal development is defined as the activities that plays important role in developing
an individual’s capability, potential, enhances quality of life, facilitates employment as well as
facilitates to attain determined goals of life in efficient manner. It is important for the students to
develop various professional and academic skills such as critical thinking, team working, oral
and written communication, occupational awareness, knowledge and understanding of computer
applications as well as self-awareness and reflection. Development of these skills helps students
to attain their personal and professions goals and objective. This portfolio covers importance of
academic and professions skills in the career of business and management and reflection on the
approach of personal learning and development. Furthermore, various transferable skills are
explained.

MAIN BODY
Importance of academic skills in business and management
Academic skills: academic skills are defined as the abilities, strategies as well as habits
that facilitates a learner to perform their academic work in efficient manner. There are various
academic skills such as academic writing skill, referencing skill, presentation skill, note-taking,
research, time-management, reflective practices and critical thinking that help an individual to
gain higher grades in academic career (Barna, 2020). Academic skills also important in
developing career in the field of business and management. Some importance of academic skills
are explained below: Complete task on time: Time-management is defined as the ability that organizes and
schedule time in efficient manner. Effective time-management is important in business
and management in order to manager organisational task, operations and activities as per
specific time that led business towards generating higher profitability and productivity. Get reliable information: Research skills is important in the field of business and
management to gain appropriate and suitable information for completing business task
and operations (Changwong, Sukkamart, and Sisan, 2018). It helps organisational
managers to gather data regarding market trends and customer’s needs and demands to
offer products and services accordingly. Handling computer operations: Academic skill related to computer operations plays
essential role in business because now these days every organisation is using digital
platform to conduct its operations. Strong computer skills help to handle business online
transactions, social media marketing, conducting campaigns and handling organisational
transactions with the help of internet.
 Taking appropriate decisions: Academic skills related to critical thinking and decision-
making enables an individual to perform with efficiency and effectiveness in the field of
business and management. With the help of these skills, manager take efficient decisions
regarding production, marketing and other operation in appropriate manner.
Importance of professional skills in business and management
Professional skills: Profession skill is defined as the ability of an individual that help
them to get success in determined job role in business. It is personality traits, habits and ability

that impacts people performance at workplace in positive manner (Huda, and et. al., 2017). There
are various professional skills such as leadership, emotional intelligence, communication,
organisation, emotional intelligence, problem-solving, teamwork and collaboration,
professionalism and strong work ethics, critical thinking and problem-solving that helps to
perform all activities related to the business and management in efficient manner. Some
importance of professional skills are explained below: Communicating roles and responsibilities: Professional skill and capability related to
communication is very essential in the field of business and management. Effective and
strong communication enables organisation managers to convey all roles and
responsibilities at all hierarchical level of business that leas all business operations in
right direction. Communication skill also used in business to convey all information,
policies and procedure to employees so they perform their operation in proper way. Manage and organise organisational resources: Organisation skill is important for
managing as well as organising organisational policies and resources in systematic
manner that boost organisational productivity and performance (Song, Huang, and
Huang, 2019). It helps business to gain competitive advantages lead business operations
in right direction. The optimum utilisation of resources is also one of the key approach
which is to be learned by an individual to develop an effective approach. Resolve problems and enhance collaboration: Professional skills like problem-solving,
team working and collaboration are considered important in the field of business and
management. It helps manager to resolve all conflict, issues and problems that are raised
in and leading employees towards the approach of teamwork and collaboration that
enhances their contribution towards attaining business determined goals and objectives.
 Lead and motivate employees: The professional skill of leadership helps in business and
management to enhances employees motivation and lead their actions or efforts in right
direction that enhances employees contribution in accomplishing organisation goals and
objectives. The main motivation related aspects helps in increasing the emotional
intelligence and moral of an individual.

Reflect on self approach to personal learning and development,
I consider that personal learning and development are two important aspects in the
academic life. I am very much enthusiastic and optimistic in learning key aspects of personal
learning for self welfare. The personal learning approach will help me to gain effectiveness in
my academic life and assist my career development plan. I will take into consideration,
application of key goals and objectives and achieve them in personal learning through guidance
by professionals. In my views it is very much crucial for an individual to focus on personal
learning in order to gain competitive advantage in academic life ((Jeske, and Linehan, 2020). My
approach to personal learning includes key focus on classroom teachings and learn them after the
teachings are over. I also consider to apply personal learning in my social life to gain and achieve
major targets and objectives. I also consider that personal learning is one of the major approaches
which helps an individual to achieve key strengths and capabilities in academic life.
The transferable skills already developed, or seek to develop during academic studies
The different skills which I have developed and wish to develop are mentioned below:
 Decision making- I have developed effective decision making skills which help me in
making key decisions in academic, personal and professional life. The decision making
skills will help me to make critical decisions related to different situations I face. I will
also use the application of decision making skills in my career field to gain effective and
efficient results. In order to develop the decision making skills, it was important for me to
take the help of seniors who helped me a lot.
 Problem solving- The problem solving skills are most important part of an individual's
life. It is major role of a person to focus on problem solving skills in order to develop key
emphasis on solving critical problems. I have developed these skills in order to develop
resolution of major problems which comes in between my career field as well as in
academic life (Song, Huang, and Huang, 2019). The problem solving approach is a key
technique which will also benefit in increasing my potential to find quick solutions for
various problems that arise in academic life.
 Time management- I wish to develop and learn time management skills which will help
me to manage my routine in a systematic manner. Time management skills according to
me are the most important skills which are to be developed by an individual. It is
important role of mine to develop focus on enhancing my time management skills to

achieve key outcomes. The management of time is one of the most crucial aspect which
needs to be developed as soon as possible in my life.
 Critical thinking- I consider that critical thinking skills are most important part of
academic life of a student. I wish to develop these skills as they will help me to increase
my overall potential in managing various things. The critical thinking skills will also help
me to increase my strengths and capabilities to deal with critical situations. The
application of critical thinking skills will also help me to find out logical and reasoning
based solutions to key problems which arise in career or academic life.
 Information and communication technology skills- The information and
communication technology skills are most important to be developed by me. In the
parallel world, IT is growing in an advanced and well defined manner (Stiles, 2017). In
the recent times, it is necessary for an individual to develop these skills for the benefit of
self and others. If I develop ICT skills then they will also help me to perform operations
associated with my organisation in a quick and accurate manner.

CONCLUSION
From the above stated report it can be concluded that it is essential for the students in
academic life to focus on professional development. This project concludes key role played by
strategic and planning framework in development of academic activities. The above stated report
concludes key importance of academic skills which are required to develop a major approach in
career development. This project concludes the value of guidance and support provided by
teachers and professors in order to develop effective approach in the academics.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Barna, J.S., 2020. Experiential Learning in School Counselor Preparation: Supporting
Professional Skill Development. The Journal of Counselor Preparation and
Supervision, 13(3), p.7.
Changwong, K., Sukkamart, A. and Sisan, B., 2018. Critical thinking skill development:
Analysis of a new learning management model for Thai high schools. Journal of
International Studies, 11(2).
Huda, and et. al., 2017. Empowering learning culture as student identity construction in higher
education. In Student Culture and Identity in Higher Education (pp. 160-179). IGI
Global.
Jeske, D. and Linehan, C., 2020. Mentoring and skill development in e-internships. Journal of
Work-Applied Management.
Song, X., Huang, X. and Huang, K., 2019, July. Research on the Effect of Skill Mismatch on
Skill Development and Job Satisfaction among Graduates. In Proceedings of the 2019
10th International Conference on E-business, Management and Economics (pp. 128-
132).
Song, X., Huang, X. and Huang, K., 2019, July. Research on the Effect of Skill Mismatch on
Skill Development and Job Satisfaction among Graduates. In Proceedings of the 2019
10th International Conference on E-business, Management and Economics (pp. 128-
132).
Stiles, J., 2017. Skill Development Takes Time for Students (and Teachers!). K-12 STEM
Education, 3(4), pp.283-287.

Appendix
Curriculum Vitae
Curriculum Vitae is defined as the short-written summary of am individual that contains
information regarding their qualification, education, personal background and interest.
Curriculum vitae
Name: Robert Thomson
Address: xyz, street, London
Phone Number: 5625-54551
Objective: To gain experience from recognised organisation that enhances my skills, knowledge
and provide opportunities of career development.
Work Experience:
 Training in management for 6 months.
 Completed internship form well-known organisation in the field of management
department for 2 years.
Qualification:
 Bachelor’s degree in business management.
 Master’s in business administration
 Having basic knowledge of computer
Skills:
 Having string communication skills and leadership skills
 Problem-solving and critical thinking skills
 Decision-making and analytical thinking
Hobbies:
 Reading Books
 Interacting with other people
 Exploring new places

Action plan
Areas of development Resources required Significance Time frame
Discipline Guidance and
instructions by
teachers and
professors.
Learning discipline
will make me more
ethical and transparent
in academic life.
6 Months
Conflict management
approach
Learning conflict
management from
professional managers
who are already
working in a company.
This will help me in
managing major
conflicts for the
organisation I am
working.
8 Months
Team management Practical approach and
its development by
handling projects in
academic life
This approach will
help me management
of subordinate team
members.
12 Months
Managerial skills Books and Journals This will help me to
manage key
employees of the
organisation I am
working for.
7 Months
Leadership Online videos The leadership skills
will help me to lead
others in a precise
manner.
9 Months