UNIBusiness inaugurates new Professional Readiness Program
With the success of the Professional Skills Initiative piloted over the past two years, UNIBusiness is now introducing the Professional Readiness Program for all students entering the College. This program is designed to give students the ability to “hit the ground running,” having developed the savvy, confidence, critical thinking, communication skills, career perspective, and professionalism that will prepare them to quickly, assertively stand up at the work place.
In August, alumnus Kevin Steere (Accounting '69) returned to the UNI campus to kickoff the program. Steere spoke on the background of PSI and the program's ultimate goal of cultivating graduates who offer a functional blend of essential business knowledge, traditional work values, and contemporary professional skills.
Steere's inaugural gift supported the development and piloting of the program, and he remains a major champion for UNIBusiness student's professionalism. With allocations from UNIBusiness’ supplemental tuition as well as generous donations from alumni and business partners, all freshmen pursuing UNIBusiness degrees will now enroll in a two-semester sequence of professional readiness. Students may elect to enroll in an additional two semesters of development activities during the junior and senior years to earn a certification of professional readiness.
Professional Readiness Program activities are designed to complement students' development of essential business knowledge, which they gain from the highly-recognized, rigor of the UNIBusiness curriculum. With those skills, along with the traditional work values that so many of our students already have, a solid preparation in, contemporary professional skills creates the formula for a "perfect business education," according to UNIBusiness Dean Farzad Moussavi.
The Program focuses on six professional skill areas: self-awareness of personal values and traits, knowledge of business the enterprise, communication skills, interpersonal skills, thinking skills, and professionalism, and skill development is fostered in multiple ways.
The Center for Professional Readiness coordinates a series of professional skills courses and a variety of international programs, administers a Communication Skills Lab, and manages the College’s corporate relationships, including the Executive Support Network. Meanwhile an extensive number of other professional development opportunities including professional certifications, student leadership opportunities, undergraduate research support, entrepreneurship resources, and internships insure that students have a fully developed professional skill set upon graduation.
For more information contact Ronelle Langley at PSI@uni.edu.
