IE Behavioral Consulting Team’s Post

🚀 Here’s what the IE Behavioral Consulting Team has been up to! We’re excited to share how each team is driving impact across the university: ✨  𝗙𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲: The team is conducting research to understand the first-year experience in Madrid and Segovia. Through interviews and focus groups, they’re gathering insights to make the transition smoother and more supportive for new students. 📢 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝘀: They’re working with class reps to integrate behavioral science in student engagement strategies. The team is refining communication with class reps to help keep students connected and informed through simple, effective messaging. Workshops are underway to share new engagement techniques! 🧘 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀:  Teaming up with the IE Center for Wellbeing, the team is brainstorming ways to make mindfulness sessions easier to access and more inviting. Ideas include loyalty rewards for attendance, simple sign-ups, and engaging social media campaigns to draw more students in. 🎯 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲: The team is laying out a long-term plan to help undergrads explore their purpose. They’re reviewing feedback on 'Introductory Purpose' lectures and testing new tools, like chatbots, to keep students inspired through their journey. Each team is making meaningful progress, and we look forward to sharing more updates soon! 😊 #BehavioralScience #IEBCT #StudentExperience #Purpose #Mindfulness

🌟 The Rise of Creativity in Higher Education 🌟 I’m fascinated to see that universities are now more than ever encouraging students to explore creative pursuits. According to recent statistics, the job prospects in creative industries are now on par with those in health, social care, and psychology! This shift speaks volumes about the growing recognition of creativity as a vital skill in today’s job market. As industries evolve, creativity is increasingly being seen not just as an asset but as a necessary component for innovation and problem-solving. Why This Matters: Creative Skills Are Universal: The ability to think creatively transcends disciplines. Whether you’re in tech, business, or the arts, creative thinking fosters adaptability and collaboration—skills every employer seeks. Expanding Opportunities: With universities actively promoting creative fields, students are beginning to see diverse career paths. The arts and creativity are not relegated to traditional roles; they’re now interwoven into various sectors including technology, education, and beyond. Cultural Impact: A focus on the creative industries enriches our cultural landscape. As more students pursue artistic endeavors, we can expect to see a flourishing of innovative ideas that reflect diverse perspectives and experiences. Career Satisfaction: Engaging in creative work often leads to greater job satisfaction and personal fulfillment. Supporting students in their creative ambitions contributes to a more vibrant, passionate workforce. As we continue to navigate our rapidly changing world, it’s exciting to see educational institutions embracing the value of creativity. After all, today’s students are tomorrow’s innovators—let’s empower them to chase their passions! What are your thoughts on this shift in focus? How can we further support creative pursuits in education? I’d love to hear your insights! #HigherEducation #CreativeIndustries #CareerDevelopment #Innovation #Creativity

🎓💼 Rethinking Education and Career Paths: Guiding with Purpose Ever wished you had a clearer roadmap to a fulfilling career? You're not alone. Reflecting on my own journey and those of countless others, it's evident that traditional approaches to education and career guidance often miss the mark. For years, we've been advised to know our strengths, skills, and aptitudes. Yet, despite these efforts, many still find themselves in roles that don't align with their passions or purpose. It begs the question: Is there a better way? Enter the concept of "Career Guidance ~ Not Career Assessment." This approach, backed by decades of research, prioritizes purpose and meaning over mere skill assessment. It's about helping individuals find a path that resonates deeply with who they are and what they aspire to be. Studies in psychology highlight the power of intrinsic motivation—the drive to pursue goals for the sheer joy of it—in shaping career success and satisfaction. When our work is meaningful and aligned with our values, we're more motivated, resilient, and ultimately, successful. Imagine a world where every student embarks on their educational journey with a clear sense of purpose. Where career discussions are integrated into every aspect of academic life, from admissions to alumni support. This isn't just wishful thinking—it's a transformative approach to education and career development. At this year's ASU-GSV event, amidst discussions on personalized learning and AI, I couldn't help but wonder: Are we overlooking the most critical piece of the puzzle? By prioritizing purpose-driven guidance, we have the potential to revolutionize education—from admissions numbers to graduation rates. Let's reimagine education as more than just a means to an end. Let's empower learners to pursue paths that lead not only to success but to a life filled with purpose and fulfillment. Together, we can build a future where every graduate looks back on their journey with pride and gratitude. Join me in championing a new era of education—one guided by purpose. Together, we can shape a brighter, more fulfilling future for generations to come. #CareerGuidance #PurposeDrivenEducation #FutureOfWork 🚀🎓

Looking to help your students, or early career hires, navigate the behaviour and mindset transition from student to professional #STP? 💡 🗺 👇 🤔 What's the problem we are trying to solve? The transition from student to professional has always required a significant shift in mindset and behaviours. However, in recent years, the gap between student and professional behaviours appears to be widening. We want to solve this problem and enable students, early careers professionals, and all those who support their development, to more easily, rapidly and successfully navigate the transition. 🔬 How have we approached the problem? Until now that transition from student to professional has been undefined and opaque to many - particularly those students who come from more diverse backgrounds. We have adopted an evidence-based, research informed approach, led by early careers experts Gradconsult and occupational psychologist experts Sten10, to objectively map and model the mindset and behavioural shift from student to professional. 🧠 Interested? Please do drop me a line about joining us as a pilot partner in this exciting work from May 2024. Spaces are limited and the price points here are strictly for those who join us at the pilot phase. To find out more you can also join our session at the upcoming Institute of Student Employers development conference on 23rd April, amongst others. And look out for our white paper with the published findings from the pilot in Autumn of this year! #studenttoprofessional #STP #graduatetransitions #careers #employability #earlycareers #learninganddevelopment

A DEGREE IS JUST A PIECE OF PAPER, YOUR REAL EDUCATION IS SEEN IN YOUR BEHAVIOR.

As we gear up for the 2024-2025 academic year, it's crucial for academic staff to be prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead. In my latest blog post, I share 10 essential tips to help you navigate the evolving landscape of higher education as you look to achieve your goals and advance your career. You will also find some bonus strategies for maintaining work-life balance and managing burnout. Whether you're focused on building collaborative relationships, embracing innovation, or supporting student success, these insights will position you for both immediate impact and long-term career growth. (And to my faculty colleagues - tips are coming your way soon!). Check it out and let's tackle this academic year with resilience and purpose! #HigherEducation #StaffDevelopment #AcademicLeadership #WorkLifeBalance #InnovationInEducation

If you follow any former academics on here, you’ve noticed that we can be pretty hard on academia. We poke at all of its failings and flaws and try to expose its hypocrisies. It’s unusual for us to say nice things about the academy, unless we’re focusing on specific people we worked with or experiences we had. Speaking for myself, I’m not trying to convince anyone that academia is horrible, no one should pursue an academic career, or that everyone working in the academy is miserable. None of those things are true. Here’s the thing though: 1.    Grad program faculty are generally academic success stories, and they often present an idealized version of academia. 2.    Grad programs often present academia as the only possible path, so the downsides are problems to be overcome (e.g., finding work/life balance within the academy) not problems to be sidestepped (e.g., finding a job that doesn’t have a work/life balance problem). 3.    When academia is presented either in an idealized way or as the only way, it’s easy for PhDs who deviate from that path to feel like they are failures. If you’re a grad student, I want you to see that you have multiple valid ways to develop a successful career. I want you to consider what you want and need your own life to look like, and then use those wants and needs as a lens through which to evaluate possible careers. Drop the vocational awe around academia, and make a true decision about whether or not it would be a good fit. Then, if academia writ large seems like a good option, take a sober look at the academic job market and evaluate the odds of getting a job that meets your needs. If you feel like academia is either a bad fit or you don’t want to struggle through an increasingly ridiculous academic job market, I want you to be able to make an informed choice to pivot to something else with zero shame. In my experience, exposing the negative side of academia increases public discussion of the pros and cons of academic jobs, it breaks through the isolation felt by many recovering academics, and it helps build community. I’d love to hear more from others who post on these topics! Jennifer Polk, PhD Luna Clara Muñoz, PhD FRSA FHEA Ashley Ruba, PhD Joshua Doležal, Ph.D. Eric James Stephens, PhD #RecoveringAcademics #LeavingAcademia

Today, I found myself reflecting on the fairness of metrics many companies use to evaluate candidates, particularly their emphasis on whether someone achieved a first-class degree. While academic excellence can be a useful benchmark, it often overshadows other vital attributes like life experience, resilience, and a well-rounded approach, all of which contribute to exceptional professional performance. I've seen firsthand how individuals with first-class degrees sometimes struggle in the workplace compared to others with broader life experiences. This doesn’t diminish their academic achievements, but it highlights that being a "good student" is only part of the equation. I am one, too. As an adult student balancing a rigorous academic journey with raising two young children, I understand how life's complexities add layers of strength and perspective. While I’m proud to currently be on track for a first-class degree, I recognize how easily life’s unpredictability could impact my grades. Would that make me less capable or driven? Certainly not. Employers, it’s time to look beyond metrics alone and consider the whole person, their experiences, adaptability, and determination. A degree can be a milestone, but it’s not the full story. If I manage to achieve a first-class degree while balancing life as an adult student with two young children, shouldn’t that count as something beyond first-class? #DiversityOfThought #LifeExperienceMatters #Resilience #TalentBeyondGrades

Higher education often sparks the debate: Is it merely a ticket to a job or a passport to exploration? While it undeniably prepares many for specific careers, it should also be a platform for discovering new ideas, fostering critical thinking, and exploring diverse interests. In an ever-evolving job market, the ability to think, adapt, and innovate becomes invaluable. Education shouldn't be confined to textbooks and exams; it should encourage curiosity beyond conventional boundaries. Does higher education equip you merely with skills for a job, or does it nurture a lifelong passion for learning? How do you view its role in today's world? Share your thoughts! #HigherEducation #LifelongLearning #CriticalThinking #Innovation #CareerDevelopment #ExploreIdeas #JobMarket #Curiosity #EducationForAll #FutureOfEducation #PersonalGrowth #ContinuousImpro

Great article summarising recent research on the widening gap between student and professional life and the impact on students becoming ‘work ready’. Some interesting factors impacting this transition, including unrealistic expectations of the world of work and the affect of hybrid working on learning on the job.