Building your academic identity and career strategy
Intended audience
This workshop suits all academics and researchers, providing an important opportunity to undertake some reflection and evaluation on each individual’s current practices and career positioning. It will be particularly helpful to those who are moving toward new career paths or responsibilities, or those seeking to develop a more robust understanding of their career management and professional identity.
Learning outcomes
Participants will develop
· a personalised assessment of their career strategy and academic identity
· an insight into the factors that are guiding their career decisions
· increased understanding of useful tools that can assist in evaluating career success and monitoring identity shifts.
Workshop description
There has been considerable discussion as to the challenges academics face in building their academic identities and career strategies. This workshop will offer participants an opportunity to review their evolving academic identity and to think more clearly about the strategies they are employing to keep themselves competitive, balanced and career-orientated. Drawing on a range of new models and concepts that have been successfully used across the world, each participant will be given the chance to think critically about the decisions and choices they are making. The workshop draws on a highly successful suite of programs that have been widely used by many leading universities in Australia and in the UK. It will encourage each individual to think about their values and needs, career avenues, advancement strategies and professional goals. Participants will be guided through a series of reflective activities and discussions, resulting in a personalised action plan to take forward.
Facilitator biography
Shelda Debowski
Higher Education Consultant, Perth,
Dr Shelda Debowski works as an international consultant to the higher education sector, providing workshops, programs, evaluation and customised services to universities with respect to academic development, career management and leadership development. She is the author of The New Academic (2012) and Developing Academics (forthcoming). Her consultancy work has encouraged the testing and development of a range of new tools and templates to support academic reflection and career management.