GRSC6008 Transferable Skills

Content:
This course aims at enhancing practical skills for postgraduate students and to prepare them to manage pro-actively the major concerns in their study from a psychosocial perspective. The major contents fall into four areas including Learning System and Learning Style, Relating with Supervisors and Peers, Managing Emotion and Time, and Planning for Oral Defense and Career Development. Focuses for each area include:

• Learning System and Learning Style: Learning environment at institutional, departmental and individual level; and major types of learning styles and learning motivation;
• Relating with Supervisors and Peers: Roles and responsibilities for both students and supervisors; major difficulties in student-supervisor and peer relationships; and good practice in interpersonal communication;
• Managing Emotion and Time: Major emotions experienced during postgraduate study; basic concepts of emotion equation; balance of emotions in daily life; steps in planning a research degree; and good practice in dealing with time theft;
• Planning for Oral Defense and Career Development: Basic elements for a good oral presentation; general procedure for an oral defense; skills for preparing an oral defense; and competence and skills for career development.

This course adopts an interactive teaching mode, in which each student is encouraged to fully participate in discussion as well as individual and group exercises. Students may be required to present or practice skills openly. Students will find this course an excellent opportunity to obtain more successful learning experiences through sharing and support from the tutor and their fellow classmates.

Organization:
Each module comprises twelve hours (three hours per week for four weeks).

Enrollment:
Enrollment of each module is limited to 40 students. In the academic year 2011-12, this course will be offered in Semester 2 only.

Assessment:

1. Participation in class activities (60%)
2. Homework exercise and assignment (40%)

Outcome:
The students will be equipped with competent in transferable skills such as system analysis, interpersonal communication, emotion intelligence, time management and presentation skills, which are significant for their postgraduate study, career and whole person development.