As director of the Master of Applied Professional Studies (MAPS) program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I’ve seen firsthand how much of a difference a well-designed professional development program can make for graduate students. In my 15 years in higher education, I’ve become acutely aware of a simple truth: preparing graduate students for success requires preparation that goes far beyond academic achievement. It requires a personalized, integrated approach — an approach that equips students with the skills, insights, and networks they need to excel in a variety of career paths.
When I began my career in higher education, the focus was almost entirely on preparing students for academic careers. However, times have changed. Today, more and more graduate students are exploring diverse career paths both within and outside of academia. This shift has forced us to rethink our approach to professional development.
I remember speaking with a talented math student who had just been accepted into a PhD program. She was excited, but also nervous about how her skills would translate to a career outside of academia if that was her path. She wasn’t alone in her fears; many students I met across science and math departments shared similar sentiments. It was clear that our professional development programs needed to adapt to these changing needs.
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In this article, I’d like to share some of the strategies I’ve found most effective for creating professional development opportunities beyond the classroom and helping prepare students for the dynamic workforce they will soon be entering.
Unlocking Potential. The starting point of any effective professional development program is understanding where each student is. We need to help students identify their strengths, areas for growth, and skills they may not even be aware of. In the MAPS program, students complete a range of skills, values, and strengths assessments in their first semester. These comprehensive skills assessments are invaluable in helping us customize individual development plans.
“I was surprised to learn how many students were unaware or undervalued their existing skills. For example, one student-athlete with a retail background didn’t realize the value of her teamwork and customer service experience in other fields. Discovering these hidden strengths not only boosted her confidence, but also gave her clarity on the direction of her professional growth.”
From the classroom to career. Exploring diverse career paths is essential for graduate students. And it’s important not to stop at the obvious options. Creativity in career exploration can lead to surprising, rewarding results. Alumni panels, informational interviews, and job shadowing are just a few of the ways we broaden students’ horizons.
For example, one recent MAPS graduate teamed up with other MAPS alumni to start an LLC that provides basketball training camps to youth in underserved areas around the world. I spoke with him last week as he prepared to provide a three-day camp for more than 150 young people in Hong Kong. They have combined academic knowledge with a passion for sports and community service, demonstrating that thinking outside the box can lead to fulfilling careers.
Learn by doing. Nothing beats hands-on experience to apply the knowledge learned in the classroom to the real world. Through internships, consulting projects, volunteering, and community engagement initiatives, students are able to apply their skills in real-world environments. Not only do these experiences equip them with practical skills, they often open the door to unexpected career paths. Short-term projects, in particular, expose students to different industries, often leading to opportunities they hadn’t initially considered.
Build bridges. Effective mentorship is critical to any professional development program. By connecting students with both academic and industry experts, we provide students with the guidance and networks essential to advancing their careers.
The most successful mentorships I’ve witnessed are those where both mentor and mentor bring unique perspectives to the table. For example, one MAPS student with a background in nursing partnered with the dean of the School of Nursing and a PhD candidate in Computer Science. Their collaboration resulted in an innovative program aimed at addressing the shortage of nurse educators. This is a great example of how interdisciplinary mentorship and collaboration can lead to groundbreaking solutions.
Communicate with confidence. The ability to communicate effectively is essential in any profession. We emphasize its importance through workshops and courses on academic and non-academic writing, presentation skills and digital communication. Practical and interactive sessions like mock interviews and elevator pitch competitions help students develop the confidence they need to excel in a professional environment.
Lead. Leadership and teamwork are essential skills for future success. We offer a variety of opportunities for students to develop these abilities through group projects, student-led initiatives, and leadership roles within graduate student organizations.
At my previous university, we developed a STEM Ambassador program where students applied and interviewed for leadership positions. This program eventually became completely student-led and became a powerful tool for developing leadership, event management, and teamwork skills.
Make ethical and responsible decisions. Incorporating ethics and professional responsibility into professional development programs is essential. These elements prepare students to navigate the many complex situations they will encounter and difficult decisions they will have to make throughout their careers.
Keep up with technology. In today’s digital world, being tech-savvy is non-negotiable, so you need to provide your graduate students with training in relevant technologies and digital tools. This can include artificial intelligence workshops, data analysis software, project management tools, and more. In the MAPS program, the introduction of data visualization tools has significantly increased the creativity and quality of students’ assignments and graduation projects.
Stimulating innovation. Encouraging students to explore entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship is another key component of professional development. We provide resources and training to students interested in entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship, including workshops on business plan development, startup funding, and the innovation process. Exposure to programs like Innovate Carolina sparks creativity and leads to successful startup ventures among our graduates.
Achieving work-life balance. Graduate students deal with a variety of demands and it is important to help them manage these effectively. Integrating wellbeing and work-life balance into professional development programs positions students for sustainable careers. We have seen the benefits of mindfulness and stress management workshops. These workshops equip students with skills that will serve them well after graduation.
Tips for continuous improvement and success
Creating an effective professional development program is an ongoing effort. Here are some strategies that have worked well for us:
Collaborate across departments: Partner with Career Services, Alumni Relations and various academic departments to build a comprehensive program. Leverage your alumni network: Work with alumni to provide insight, mentorship and job opportunities to current students. Stay on top of industry trends: Regularly update your program to reflect the latest industry needs and trends. Collect and respond to feedback: Continually seek feedback from students, alumni and employers to refine and improve your offerings. Be inclusive: Ensure your program responds to the diverse needs of your student population, including international students and students from underrepresented groups.
Creating effective professional development programs for graduate students is both a challenge and an opportunity: it requires an ongoing commitment to inclusive education, a willingness to innovate, and a deep understanding of the diverse paths students may take.
To ensure our professional development efforts are most effective and continually improved, we have set clear success metrics. Key metrics include employment rates after graduation, job satisfaction, student engagement and feedback from employers.
One of the proudest moments for me was when I received an email from a former student who told me that her professional development experience gave her the skills and confidence to successfully transition her career from academia to industry. Stories like this prove that our work has long-term benefits.
In fact, as the MAPS program continues to evolve, I am continually inspired by the creativity, resilience, and success of our students and alumni. By providing students with robust professional development opportunities, we are not only preparing them for their first job after graduation, but also equipping them with the skills, mindset, and networks to succeed throughout their careers.
I encourage all graduate program professionals to view professional development as an integral part of their graduate education, not just an add-on. Our investment in these programs and experiences will translate not only to the success of our students, but also to the positive impact they have on their chosen fields and on society at large.
What innovative approaches to professional development have you introduced into your programs? How are you preparing your graduate students for an ever-changing workforce? Let’s continue this important conversation and work together to create truly impactful professional development opportunities for your graduate students.
