Joy Hooker 

Attribute 12: Facilitate the ability of graduates to participate with confidence in the future workplace as capable and sustainable practitioners

 

Redevelopment of EMTC's level 5 internship programme (Case Study 1) included intentional development of transferable skills.

 

One of the stated objectives of the programme is to develop and enhance transferable skills and personal attributes for the wider employment market.   As such, two of the four programme Graduate Profile Attributes reflect this priority:

• To demonstrate leadership, management and communication skills and be able to apply these within a practical ministry context.

• To apply critical thinking and reflective practice skills to various personal and ministry contexts.

 

Specific skills developed through this programme include:

• Leadership skills

• Project management skills

• Teamwork skills

• Communication skills

• Critical thinking

• Reflective practice

 

The work-integrated learning model employed by this programme encourages the integration of learning with practice in the workplace.  This is reviewed by evaluation and reflection processes embedded in the assessments.

 

The theoretical learning occurs over four components:

• Leadership of Others (LEAD) – this covers knowledge and application of a broad range of leadership principles and integrates biblical and theological knowledge and understanding with critical thinking in leadership and reflective practice.

• Integrating Personal Values (IPV) – this component focuses on personal and character development and is assisted by a personal mentor.

• Strategic Ministry Planning (SMP) – this covers both biblical and local contextual issues of strategic planning and its application.

• Ministry Skills (MINSK) – this focuses on developing ministry skills appropriate to the proposed ministry/leadership context of each individual learner.

 

The work placement (Practical Ministry or PRAC) assessments require learners to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of what they have learnt in the classroom. 

 

Overall the Diploma internship programme aims to:

- apply, integrate and consolidate academic learning with practical ministry

- develop and enhance the skills and attributes identified as critical to the success of EMTC graduates

- build occupational capabilities, generic leadership and transferable skills, that enhance future employment opportunities

- develop professional work practices and networks

 

As 2015 is the first year this redeveloped programme will run, evaluation as to how well this programme accomplishes these goals has not yet been completed.