Preparing for Success: University Experience and Skill Development

This report provides a reflective analysis of a student's university experience, emphasizing the development of crucial skills for academic and professional growth. The report delves into the importance of communication skills, highlighting both verbal and written communication, and how they were honed through university experiences. It also explores the benefits of reading, problem-solving techniques, and the components of creativity, including expertise, creative thinking, and motivation. Furthermore, the report examines the challenges facing the UK economy, the advantages of independent learning, and the application of tools like PESTLE and SWOT analyses for understanding external and internal environments. Primary research findings on communication skill improvement are presented, alongside an exploration of the elements of the communication mix, visual learning strategies, and the Kolb learning cycle. The report concludes by discussing the development of personal learning styles and the application of these skills for future professional success. The student emphasizes the value of these skills and experiences in preparing for a successful career, highlighting the importance of adaptability, proactive problem-solving, and continuous learning.

Preparing for Success At
University: Knowledge and
Creativity

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
Communication skills..................................................................................................................3
Benefits of reading.......................................................................................................................4
Problem solving...........................................................................................................................4
Components of creativity.............................................................................................................5
Threat for UK economy...............................................................................................................5
Independent learning...................................................................................................................6
Pestle analysis..............................................................................................................................7
Swot analysis...............................................................................................................................8
Primary research..........................................................................................................................8
Elements of communication mix.................................................................................................9
Visual learners...........................................................................................................................10
Learning cycle:..........................................................................................................................11
Developing style........................................................................................................................12
SUMMARY...................................................................................................................................13
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
In this report, I am going to reflect what I had learnt in the university. Knowledge and
creativity is very helpful for the person to think, express, innovate so that the personality can be
updated. Creativity will also help in getting good employment opportunities. This report will
discuss communication skills which I learnt in the university and which will help in enhancing
academic and professional growth. Further, will tell the benefit of visual and independent
learning. Report will also discuss problem solving and developing style technique which can be
beneficial for the professional growth. Skills which will be discussed in the reflective report that
all skills I had built from the university so that also has helped me into my academics.
Communication skills
I had learnt about the communication skills and how to built effective communication
skills. Communication skills plays important role in the individual's personality because the first
thing which I have noticed in any person is the way how he or she is expressing himself or
herself. Communication means when the information is passed from the sender and get by the
receiver. Effective communicators are those who convey message (Khan and et.al., 2017).
Communication are of two types verbal and nonverbal communication.

Benefits of reading
Reading is very beneficial it helped me in the university in my exams and through reading I
became aware of the current topics which will help me in my professional growth so when I
work if I have complete knowledge about the market trends then I can easily get the promotion
and information about external factors can be helpful for the company to take competitive
advantage.
Problem solving
From this evidence I have understood that do not be panic when any problem arise in
life, when I was in the university problem related to lecture arises but I calmed myself and
discuss with my tutor and now when I am at my professional career, here also I keep relax my

self and rather panicking I find out solution of that problem by discussing to the experts or with
seniors.
Components of creativity
Expertise: I have expertise in the course which I had done in the university as it focus on
knowledge and concepts of the course which will be helpful for me in my professional growth
(Claro and et.al., 2018).
Creative thinking skills: whenever problem arises in my university or into my
professional career I focus mainly on innovative ideas to solve the issues.
Motivation: motivation is vital but I believe that motivation which is get from within
gives more impact than the outside motivation.
Threat for UK economy

In this evidence I have found some major threat which I had noticed is related to the
manufacturing industries. Many people are loosing jobs and the rate of unemployment is
increasing day by day. Out sourcing can also be the reason in unemployment. I think that social
tensions are increasing because many job seekers are coming in UK for job hence fear from
migrants (Watson and et.al., 2019). Energy prices has also increased causing inflationary risks.
Entrance of multinational brands in the country which leads to loss of culture identity.
Independent learning

Through this evidence I feel that independent learners when learning isolated can be the
effective learning because working lonely can help to understand the concept in the better way.
As when I work alone I feel less disturbed and regular study proves beneficial for me. I think that
learning can be done through reading various articles like papers, reports etc.
Pestle analysis
This evidence help me in finding out the external environment which can affect the
business and if is identified then it will be helpful in getting business success. I analysed that in
the developed countries there is more political stability and if the regulations of government is in
favour of the company than company can avail higher growth. As pestle shows external
environment which is not in the hands of company to control that.
Swot analysis

This evidence helps me in searching out the internal environment which can influence the
business internally. I evaluated that by adopting advanced technology company can get
opportunity to grow and achieve its objective. But competitors can act as threat for company and
brand value can become strength.
Primary research
Theme1: majority of respondents said that university has contributed in improving
communication skills.
1. Did your university contribute in improving your communication
skills?
Respondents
Yes 15
No 5
total 20
Interpretation:
From above picture out of 20, 15 respondents said yes and only 5 said no.
Theme 2: maximum said that they developed both communication skills.
2. Which communication skill you have improved? Respondents
Written 5
Verbal 5
Both 10
total 20

Interpretation:
From above chart 10 respondents out of 20 said that they improved both written and verbal.
Whereas 5 said written and 5 said verbal only.
Elements of communication mix
This evidence stated about promoting sales is the vital thing in the promotion as I feel
that promotion helps in increase the sales which increase profits of the company (Bacik and
et.al., 2018). For this I can perfer company to give advertisement while using TV, radio etc. and
nowadays digital marketing is used more for advertisement purpose. I am also learning to do
digital marketing as it will help in my professional career. Some companies also does direct
marketing like selling through telephone etc.

Visual learners
From this evidence I have learned visual learning which is effective learning I feel that
when I learn through visualizing then it is more effective than learning by hearing audio and
presentations are very colourful so it is very interesting to learn through it and also it has images
so when learnt through presentation then one cannot forget that information easily. In the
university also I have habit of learning through presentation only which result in increase in the
remember of the topics.
Learning cycle:

In the kolb learning cycle I have learned that there are four types of learners which
include concrete experience- under this people learn from experiences and focus more on
discussion, I am also a person which like discussion and feedbacks. Reflective observers- those
are the persons who learn from reflection. Abstract conceptualizes- I feel that I come under this
because it refers about systematic and understanding and give c lear ideas (Wang, Antonenko
and Dawson, 2020). Active experimenters- they are the person who like taking risk, so they
always prefer doing new things.
Developing style

Accommodating: Under this people I have search for new opportunities and influence
people with their actions as than I have come to know how to deal with others, and they are
ambitious about the objectives.
Diverging: I listen to everyone and respect value of people. Before taking any decisions
people collect information.
Converging: I have learned things to innovative and try to do some new things
differently. Experiment and choose what is best.
Assimilating: In assimilating I have understood about organization information and
analyse data their company information.
I learnt that I have accommodating style as I crave for new opportunities because it
motivates me when I try something different, and I am also ambitious about my career and I will
also try to develop other developing skills into myself (Wono, 2017).
SUMMARY
From the above report it has summarized that communication skills are very vital in
everybody's life and I can also say that the university course has helped me in building my
communication skills and in my professional career. I believe that I can able to perform good in
the future if I have good communication skills. Reading have lots of benefits but I feel that
reading is the blessing in my life because of my regular reading habit only I got good
professional career and moreover after reading only I had decided that which career option is the
best suitable for me. I always take problem as a challenge which I have to face not with stress but
with positive approach because if one think problem as a burden then will never succeed in life. I
have creative skills which help me to stand differently from others and is also the biggest
motivator for me. along with creative skills I have expertise in some work which will help in
growth in terms of professional and personal. In the report it has also seen that UK economy is in
threat as due to the increasing rate of unemployment. If people are unemployed then it will
decrease their purchasing power which will further reduce circulation of money and eventually
affects the economy.
Independent learning is very effective for me as I believe that I can learn or understand better
when I am alone and I also believe that when learning is done in group then that was not very
effective as it includes people which can cause disturbance. Pestle analysis is the effective tool
for the company because to analyse outside environment is important to beat the competition and

will also help me in future if I start my own business. Communication mix which involve
promotion or advertisement is the very important department of the company and is done by
marketing team. It is also helpful to increase the reputation of the company. It can be done
through various ways like traditional or modern ways but in today's world digital marketing is
used by majority of company for promotion. The reason behind this is it is cost effective and also
can help to attract large audience (O’Brien and et.al., 2018). I believe that when learning is done
with the help of presentation then it leaves long impact on mind and cannot forget easily so that
is why many universities is adopting this culture of learning through presentation. I learn through
experience because I believe that after you try then only you can get knowledge about the topic.
As practical is very important one should not always take theoretical knowledge rather should try
practical things also. As in this report it has observed that I enjoy dealing with new opportunities
and is not afraid of problems as this has helpful in building confidence into me and will
definitely help in my professional growth. The above skills will make me efficient and I will help
the organization to achieve the objective in which I will work.

REFERENCES
Books and journals
Bacik, R. and et.al., 2018. Factors of communication mix on social media and their role in
forming customer experience and brand image. Management & Marketing. Challenges
for the Knowledge Society. 13(3). pp.1108-1118.
Claro, M. and et.al., 2018. Teaching in a Digital Environment (TIDE): Defining and measuring
teachers' capacity to develop students' digital information and communication
skills. Computers & Education. 121. pp.162-174.
Khan, A. and et.al., 2017. Communication Skills of a Teacher and Its Role in the Development
of the Students' Academic Success. Journal of Education and Practice. 8(1). pp.18-21.
O’Brien, R. and et.al., 2018. The VOICE study–A before and after study of a dementia
communication skills training course. PloS one. 13(6). p.e0198567.
Wang, J., Antonenko, P. and Dawson, K., 2020. Does visual attention to the instructor in online
video affect learning and learner perceptions? An eye-tracking analysis. Computers &
Education. 146. p.103779.
Watson, M.K. and et.al., 2019. Using Kolb’s learning cycle to improve student sustainability
knowledge. Sustainability. 11(17). p.4602.
Wono, H.Y., 2017. Preferensi Mahasiswa Terhadap Marketing Communication Mix.
1

Appendix
1. Did your university contribute in improving your communication skills?
 Yes
 No
2. Which communication skill you have improved?
 Written
 Verbal
 Both
2