Reflecting on the Edinburgh Award for Professional Development

1 September 2021

With all the great opportunities offered by the Business School, the one that stood out to me during the end of my 1^st year would be the Edinburgh Award for Professional Development. This is because I had heard very highly of this Award through previous participants from senior years, and how it had helped them to develop themselves as an individual through working on building their skill sets.

Having participated in the Award now, I would like to highlight certain areas, which I enjoyed thoroughly and shaped me into the person I am today.

Firstly, the group coaching sessions provided a safe platform to openly discuss personal skill development (for example without being judged!), which I appreciated the most. In addition, these sessions were very enjoyable and helpful as they provided us time with our coaching leaders who offered us constructive feedback depending on the stage of our skill development.

Secondly, the reflective journals assisted my journey in developing my chosen skills. At first, the idea of writing reflections was a little off-putting; however as time went by, I realised reflecting is one of the most important aspects required if wanting to improve a certain area. It helps us analyse our past actions and then provides a better understanding for future developments.

Lastly, the vast access to online resources provided to us in the form of workshops, seminars, and other such activities played an important part in my journey. This is because these sessions allowed us to put our skills into practice in a fun, and interactive way. Additionally, these sessions were presented by professionals who were experts in these fields which allowed us to gain a more in-depth and well-rounded perspective.

Participating in the Award allowed me to build relationships with staff members from the Business School and the Student Development Team, who act as a support system through one’s journey in university. I would personally say if you are willing to put in the effort and are interested in developing certain skills for future opportunities, then most definitely go for the Award.

In saying so, if you do decide to participate in the Award, make sure you stay organised, and balance the requirements for this Award well with other commitments. To conclude, I would say grab hold of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and enjoy discovering yourself to the fullest!

Mihika Jamnerkar is an Undergraduate Business with Marketing Student at the University of Edinburgh Business School