Professional Skills - Consultancy

Course manual 2022/2023

Course content

As a MSc graduate you may want to provide professional or expert advice to external parties. Consultants need a variety of skills and tools in order to be effective in their work. Good consultants are able to quickly define and structure a problem, select the right data, and propose multiple directions to solve a problem. They are able to engage their client and convince them of the advised direction.

In this course you will work on developing your advisory skills, you will learn different consultancy methods and how to think like a consultant. This course will help you to become an impactful professional, whether that is in science, consultancy, or any other profession.

Study materials

Other

• All materials that will be used in this course will be shared at the start of and during the course on Canvas.

Objectives

• After completing the course successfully, the student can describe what consultancy is,
• can apply the consultancy methods that are discussed in the course in various situations,
• can list the most important consultancy skills and can apply at least one of these skills in assignments,
• can explain how to use consultancy skills and methods to make a positive societal impact.

Teaching methods

• Self-study
• Tutorials

The Tutorial is an interactive learning activity. In the Tutorials we will discuss practical information about consultancy in general and associated skills and methods, we will have discussions about societal impact and the role of consultancy therein, but you will mostly work on assignments (individually and in groups) to understand and be able to apply the subject matter. Learning by doing!

Outside of the tutorials you will have time to deepen your knowledge and skills during self-study. You will work on your consultancy skills, personal skills, and you will apply consultancy methods in a case project.

Learning activities

Attendance

Requirements of the programme concerning attendance (OER-B):

1. Attendance during practical components exercises is mandatory.

Additional requirements for this course:

Attendance and participation during tutorials is mandatory. All sessions are planned on campus (we do not facilitate hybrid sessions).

Students may be absent in 1 of the tutorials, but only when communicated in advance to the course teachers.

Assessment

The course is assessed with a pass/fail based on a rubric.

Inspection of assessed work

Grading review is possible on request, either during the course (partial grade) or after the course (final grade). Please contact the course teacher to make an appointment.

Assignments

There are two assignments for this course: Project proposal assignment (50%) and Skill development assignment and reflection report (50%). For more information see the course's Canvas page.

Fraud and plagiarism

The 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' applies to this course. This will be monitored carefully. Upon suspicion of fraud or plagiarism the Examinations Board of the programme will be informed. For the 'Regulations governing fraud and plagiarism for UvA students' see: www.student.uva.nl

Course structure

Timetable

The schedule for this course is published on DataNose.

Honours information

The Professional Skills-Consultancy credits do not count towards a cum laude degree.

Contact information

Coordinator

• dr. Eleni Spyropoulou

Staff

• Jarik Guijt