The Role and Importance of Professional Associations - Essay Example

The Role and Importance of Professional Associations Table of Content Introduction 1 Reasons for the need of professional association 1 Definitions 2 The comments by employers 3 Comments by graduates 4 Comments by students 4 Ways to develop professional skills by use of work-integrated learning tips 4 How professional skills develop professional skills 4 Models used in professional association in line with work-placement 4 Factors to consider when introducing professional association 5 Ideas needed in professional association 5 Arising issues in professional associations or work integrated learning 5 Contracts made before work-integrated learning experience (professional association) 6 Journals necessary for learning 6 Models for assessing professional skills 6 Findings 6 Recommendation 7 Conclusion 7 Reference List 7 Introduction Reasons for the need of professional association The project focuses on the benefits that students gain from learning in a professional context outside the learning institutions while taking their studies. A chance to learn in the workplace, Placement work, among others, allows the students a chance to: Identify the importance of certain concepts and skills learnt in the course study, and therefore, encourage extra learning in class. Allow them to practice the theories. Appreciate the fact that success is not the only reason for employment and choosing of careers. Come up with awareness of culture in the work place and cope with changes in the working environment. Develop communication and interactive skills. Develop profitable career strategies and plans. Definitions Professional association refers to organizations that act as an umbrella to people or professionals doing their learning process in the same field. Individuals in a learning field need to interact among each other to enhance sufficient skills. In this case, professional associations help me accomplish their study through providing a platform for interaction. Professional skills refer to the skills essential for students to be successful in professional activities and practice enhance through interaction. The skills can be transferred and has the features like; self-confidence, self-image, self-esteem, understanding of ethical issues, meeting deadlines, being punctual, socializing well with others in the organization, showing interest and initiative. Work-integrated learning refers to various forms of workplace learning such as field and work placements, industrial project, that are undertaken by students while studying. Results shows that graduates who experience work-integrated learning appreciate the importance of the course study and get encouraged finishing their course programs compared to those who haven’t experienced. They establish a strong professional identity quickly and are in a position to employ the skills learnt through practice association or interaction. The need for professional association Getting into a new environment of working after graduating, the graduates face challenges on ways to learn and work in the strange situation that is not predictable. Project teams and associations require flexibility and professional skills gained though interaction or association. Graduates should be able to do work in the administration to meet the objectives required and achieve positive results. In such a case, a graduate need to enroll in a professional association to help them gather and learn more in their relevant areas of duty. The graduates and employers who are enrolled to professional association programs understand the benefits of properly-developed professional skills for career improvement. The table below gives a summary of the needs of the current workplace. Features of today’s workplace Challenges in work place Changing world that requires various individuals skills to work effectively Group work Interpersonal and team skills are necessary for complex projects and diverse cultural situations. All these are achievable under professional associations. Social attributes Communication skills, team operation, and interpersonal skills Personal skills Self-esteem, self-picture, self-confidence, and self-motivation Wider expertise Workplace involves applying professional skills learnt from professional association b. the course tend to be broader than the normal expectation. The comments by employers Skills, knowledge, and attitude are elements of success in ones’ work. The graduates need this as they get to any workplace so that they can interact with others effectively and complete work on the given time frame. Every organization culture is different from school culture, and thus, graduates should understand thoroughly. Professional association is vital in learning and understanding of different organizational cultures. Professional association also helps in enhance good relation in a work-place Comments by graduates Professional association helps one to develop self-confidence and understand the roles and relationships at work. It also boosts the experience gained in day to day operations. Comments by students Professional association enables one to take skills on to the practical field. It also helps one to get into the professional field. They state that if one hasn’t learnt anything new, and face challenges, then getting to a professional field will treat one consequently. Ways to develop professional skills by use of work-integrated learning tips Work-integrated learning can be defined as learning that results through having a practical field experience or professional association. This includes activities such as internship, industry projects, placements, combined courses and work experience. The activities are carried out through supervision of the staff and the supervisor from acting department or organization. How professional skills develop professional skills When graduates participate in work placement, it is necessary to get used to the culture of the organization. Therefore, the need to be punctual, responsible, reliable, dressed neatly, meet time frames, show commitment and relate well with staff members and clients. Models used in professional association in line with work-placement Work placement is a 3-way relationship of the university, the student and organization. It enables the student to develop competence in the profession, contribute skills to the company’s operation and have experience of life outside the campus. Internship is another essential model for professional association that allows a graduate to be employed by an organization and get paid for work placement. The work experience model on the other hand, takes place industrial area or related professional organization and helps the student acquire skills essential for employment. Industry projects are short-termed and are founded on achieving results for specific project helps one to gain a wide range of knowledge and ideas necessary for organizational and personal success. Factors to consider when introducing professional association First, the way in which professional association fits the program is evaluated, this is done by knowing the intended outcome from a given interactive program. The number of students who require the opportunity is identified so that a decision concerning competence is made by the organization. Secondly the students’ outcome is considered, one should identify resources and steps needed by the students so as to define loose or tight outcome. One should also consider supervision for the students and identifying the field of specialization they need, and how they will be assessed by suitable methods. Proper Administration of professional association is essential to any school so as to know who will take the responsibility of creating a partnership with the industry. Ideas needed in professional association Offer gifts and give certificates to partner industries to appreciate their participation. Develop continuous and suitable communication channel between the campus and students Train students before the start of placement work Create awareness of the ethical practices necessary for the organization they will work with. Ensure that the supervisors know their responsibility and relation to the students. Arising issues in professional associations or work integrated learning Due to the increasing number of people or students the WIL placements have to be increased. Initiative staff is required in supervision during WIL placement. The staff majority are not comfortable to work well with the industry. Supervision and management of WIL are hard to incorporate in several organization and performance measurement. Contracts made before work-integrated learning experience (professional association) The students should be introduced to the reflective activities by making sure they are familiar with what to learn. The contracts made in learning include: Developing reference to the professional skills. Acquiring discipline related knowledge. Creating a list of resources that the student needs during learning. Dates fixed for student presentation of reports on the placement work. Journals necessary for learning Students should be encouraged to come with log books or a document with detailed information on what they have learnt in the place of work. The document is important since it gives a reflection of the students’ experience and also, gives proof of their claim of acquiring development skills. Models for assessing professional skills The attendance model displays the work placement as optional and an opportunity for integrated working. Another model, however, stress on documenting work and completing work it is referred to the work history model. The student professional skills can be assessed by both the workplace and academic supervisors. The supervisor can judge the student during visits and the assignment submitted. Necessary principles in professional association The professional skills of students; Develop gradually over time Is related to the attitude that student build and engage with the work differently. Professional skills are wider than graduate skills such as being responsible and punctual. Findings After carrying out the research and analyzing data, the results were recorded and used to establish a strong foundation for enhancing skills development through professional association. It was noted that individuals who had graduated without undertaking placement or participating in activities that boost the skills had hard time to cope with challenges that they face at work place. It becomes difficult for them to generate new and current ideas necessary for organizational success. However, the individuals who acquired these skills at an earlier stage had smooth time and benefited a lot since they fit to the changing work environment. Also, many organizations today find it advantageous to employ persons having skills that will help the organization to grow. Recommendation After analyzing the findings suitable recommendations were made to suit the changing work. Everyone wants success in their personal life or organizational well-being. To achieve these skills that are essentials for development are supposed to be developed in every student striving to excel in their future. Therefore, every individual should see to it that these essentials skills are attained earlier so as to fit the work place conditions and qualification. Conclusion Lastly, after the outcome was assessed and recorded and findings made, it was concluded that the professional skills should be delivered to students through the work-integrated learning or professional association, a suitable way to acquire various skills on different fields of work. According to various articles and publications, Professional associations are vital in the society. Reference List BRINE, A. (2005). Continuing professional development a guide for information professionals. Oxford, Chandos. http://books.google.com/books?id=fM3gAAAAMAAJ. CAROSELLI, M. (2003). Interpersonal skills. Australia, South-Western/Thomson Learning. KAGAN, C., KAGAN, C., & EVANS, J. (1998). Professional interpersonal skills for nurses. Cheltenham, Stanley Thornes. HINCHCLIFFE, R., BROMLEY, T., & HUTCHINSON, S. (2007). Skills training in research degree programmes: politics and practice. Maidenhead, England, Open University Press. Read More