PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS

The following competency self-assessment tool was developed to assist graduate students identify their strengths and areas for professional development. For each competency below, check how often you are demonstrating the competency currently, then identify how important it is that you successfully achieve this competency during your degree, and finally note if it is essential that you develop this competency right now. This self-assessment tool will help guide you during your graduate degree. Make a habit of checking this competency tool each year during your graduate degree to continuously develop the skills required to compete in today’s global market.

1. Intellectual and Creative Capacity
Applies critical and inventive thinking in an effort to problem solve, make connections between ideas, evolve current knowledge, and navigate change and uncertainty with regard to research practices and society in general. / How often are you demonstrating this competency now? / How important do you believe this competency will be to your success over the next 1-3 years? / Important for you to develop now?
Not at All / Rarely / Sometimes / Often / Very Often / Not Important / Of Little Importance / Somewhat Importance / Important / Essential / Yes / No
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Demonstratesintellectual clarity (makes connections between seemingly diverse ideas).
Critically and creatively examines issues from different points of view in order to enhance problem solving skills.
Evolves current knowledge and intellectual practices and structures.
Explorescreative approaches to research and knowledge.
Applies creative and strategic approaches to research and knowledge.
Demonstratesa critical engagement toward knowledge within society in general.
Demonstrates tolerance for change, uncertainty, and ambiguity.
2. Knowledge Development
Engages in an ongoing process of acquiring knowledge in, contributing new ideas to, and understanding how research and theory interact within a field of study as well as making inter-disciplinary connections. / How often are you demonstrating this competency now? / How important to you believe this competency will be to your success over the next 1-3 years? / Important for you to develop now?
Not at All / Rarely / Sometimes / Often / Very Often / Not Important / Of Little Importance / Somewhat Importance / Important / Essential / Yes / No
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Acquires knowledge in a field of study.
Makes connections between ideas within a field of study.
Contributes new knowledge and/or ideas to a field of study.
Demonstrates an understanding of how research and theory are integrated and inform action within a field of study.
Critically analyzes and evaluates independentfindings as well asthose of others.
Makes connections between disciplinary and inter-disciplinary knowledge and research.
3. Knowledge Translation
Engages in a dynamic process of knowledge synthesis, dissemination, exchange and translation to allow for research results to reach the wider community, ultimately resulting in societal benefit. / How often are you demonstrating this competency now? / How important to you believe this competency will be to your success over the next 1-3 years? / Important for you to develop now?
Not at All / Rarely / Sometimes / Often / Very Often / Not Important / Of Little Importance / Somewhat Importance / Important / Essential / Yes / No
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Develops creative and strategic ways for synthesizing, disseminating, exchanging, and translating knowledge in a manner appropriate for a variety of stakeholders.
Explains complex concepts related to content, skills and processes in a concise and clear manner within an academic field.
Understands how research and knowledge within an academic field can be communicated to and translated to variety of stakeholders for the benefit of society.
Employs the knowledge generated through research tomake informed decisions about relevant policies, programs and/or practices while following ethical principles and norms, social values, as well as legal and other regulatory frameworks.
4. Teaching and Dissemination
Actively pursues the development of teaching skills to effectively improve teaching and learning in the university classroom. / How often are you demonstrating this competency now? / How important to you believe this competency will be to your success over the next 1-3 years? / Important for you to develop now?
Not at All / Rarely / Sometimes / Often / Very Often / Not Important / Of Little Importance / Somewhat Importance / Important / Essential / Yes / No
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Maintains a high content knowledge level for each course responsibility.
Actively developsa personal teaching style through investigation of pedagogical methods that ensure student success.
Critically engages in current teaching methodologies within the academic field.
Teaches to a variety of learning styles in order to ensure students are able to engage with course content and achieve success.
Successfully mentors students’ intellectual development in the academic field.
Engages with a range of teaching technologies suitable for the academic field.
Ensures that student assessment is fair, transparent, and congruent with course objectives.
Demonstrates awareness ofsensitive topics and issues of diversity in the classroom.
Maintains confidentiality regarding student work.
Acts professionally to demonstrate respect for students, the department, colleagues, and institutional policies and standards.
5. Research Development and Project Management
Employs a diverse set of strategic and hands-on activities and skills to develop, promote, and execute complex research projects related to an academic and/or non-academic field, while fostering meaningful and collaborative relationships with a variety of stakeholders. / How often are you demonstrating this competency now? / How important to you believe this competency will be to your success over the next 1-3 years? / Important for you to develop now?
Not at All / Rarely / Sometimes / Often / Very Often / Not Important / Of Little Importance / Somewhat Importance / Important / Essential / Yes / No
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Understands common research development and project management tools and techniques.
Plans, coordinates, sets priorities, and manages timelines.
Coordinates, manages, and evaluates projects, teams, timelines, and performance.
Writes research and/or grant proposals.
6. Leadership and Personal Resourcefulness
Initiates strategic and relevant linkages among people and organizations, networking within and across academic and non-academic worlds. / How often are you demonstrating this competency now? / How important to you believe this competency will be to your success over the next 1-3 years? / Important for you to develop now?
Not at All / Rarely / Sometimes / Often / Very Often / Not Important / Of Little Importance / Somewhat Importance / Important / Essential / Yes / No
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Navigates systems, relationships and priorities to achieve goals and address work related conflicts and/or stressors.
Understands group dynamics and works collaboratively in effective, responsive manner.
Initiates connections with others, leads teams, facilitates groups, motivates others and works effectively toward goals.
Understands the organizational culture and translates policies and procedures within specific situations.
Communicates effectively in interactions with others, listening effectively, providing and receiving constructive feedback and building consensus.
Demonstrates confident public speaking and presentation skills.
Works across and enlists differences.
7. Global Citizenship and Civic Engagement
Actively contextualizes personal development as a global citizen, and contributes to society through academic and non-academic work. / How often are you demonstrating this competency now? / How important to you believe this competency will be to your success over the next 1-3 years? / Important for you to develop now?
Not at All / Rarely / Sometimes / Often / Very Often / Not Important / Of Little Importance / Somewhat Importance / Important / Essential / Yes / No
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Demonstrates an interest in and commitment to participating in civic engagement and global citizenship.
Identifies and analyzes how theacademicfield is relevant to society and can further societal interests.
Participates in opportunities to develop personal character and skill in ways that enhance civic engagement within the academicfield of work and/or study.
Participates in opportunities to develop competencies in understanding and/or relating to different cultures.
8. Integrity and Ethical Conduct
Understands and applies issues of academic integrity and ethical judgment in academic and non-academic settings. / How often are you demonstrating this competency now? / How important to you believe this competency will be to your success over the next 1-3 years? / Important for you to develop now?
Not at All / Rarely / Sometimes / Often / Very Often / Not Important / Of Little Importance / Somewhat Importance / Important / Essential / Yes / No
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Actively applies an understanding of the principles and policies related to academic integrity and ethics, including those related to plagiarism, conflict of interest, and intellectual property rights.
Identifies and uses resources that ensure the professional integrity and ethical conduct of teachers, researchers and professionals in their discipline, the university, their field of work and the larger society.
Develops knowledge of emerging issues related to ethics in thefield of work and/or study.
Consciously navigates the issues of ethics and integrity related to employment and contractual agreements using identifiable tools.
Uses peer reviews and multiple viewpoints to develop and improve the quality ofwork.
Employs procedures,such asan ethics review, to reflect on and develop academic work and research.
9. Career Development
Engages in an ongoing process of self-assessment, competency development and assessment of work and volunteer opportunities (both within and outside of academia) to take ownership for and manage personal career progression and employability. / How often are you demonstrating this competency now? / How important to you believe this competency will be to your success over the next 1-3 years? / Important for you to develop now?
Not at All / Rarely / Sometimes / Often / Very Often / Not Important / Of Little Importance / Somewhat Importance / Important / Essential / Yes / No
1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
Develops an awareness of and articulates core motivators that describe the key elements of a personally satisfying career.
Identifies and articulates competencies developed through academic, work, volunteer and personal experiences.
Identifies competencies for further development and takes action to develop them.
Identifies and commits to informed career choices based on exposure to and assessment of a broad array of opportunities and paths.
Prepares effective CVs and/or résumés targeted at defined career objectives.
Demonstrates confidence in appropriate self-marketing and self-promotion for the purposes of employment and career advancement.
Networks appropriately and effectively within area of study as well as within relevant career areas.
Engages effectively in interviews for career opportunities.
Demonstrates a lifelong learning perspective towards professional development.

This self-assessment tool for graduate students was developed for Pathways to Success2012. The content above was adapted from research conducted by Dr. Gweneth Doane, during her tenure as Associate Dean of Graduate Studies. The Pathways for Success planning committee gratefully thanks UVic’s Human Resources office for allowing us to base the format of this document on their document titled, “Leadership Competencies, Level 1, Self-Assessment Tool.”