Skills and Attributes: Pursue excellence

Reflective and self-aware

Reflect on what you learn to keep growing by: 

• understanding yourself, your motivations, values, skills and strengths 
• having a growth mindset and being able to recognise areas you need to develop 
• having emotional intelligence 
• seeking to understand yourself and others 
• having the ability to reflect on your experiences and learn from them 
• being able to articulate your skills and attributes to others 

Opportunities to develop these skills and attributes include:

Support new students to transition and integrate into university life. Share your knowledge and experience as you make connections with the people around you.

Self-management

Be organised and motivated to achieve your goals through: 

• personal professionalism 
• time management 
• respectful behaviour 
• organisational capabilities 
• meeting deadlines 
• asking for help 

Opportunities to develop this skill include:

Go abroad as part of your degree. Gain international work experience and become more organised, self-reliant, and adaptable—key attributes of effective self-management.

Join our Sport operations team working across indoor and outdoor facilities. Balance your studies with your role providing front line customer services.

Self-directed learning

Learn how to take charge of your own future by:  

• developing an enthusiasm and initiative for learning and a desire to continuously learn knowledge and skills 
• working independently 
• being interested in how the world and society works 
• an understanding of future opportunities and how to develop yourself to be well placed to respond to those 

Opportunities to develop this skill include:

Coach and lead sessions in our internal student sport programme. Build on previous coaching experience and meet new challenges as you support others.

Learn how to communicate well and improve relationships. Understand what assertiveness is and increase your awareness of your own style of communication as well as others.

Ethically aware

Shape who you are and how you impact the world around you by: 

• considering the moral implications of your choices and actions 
• having integrity at the core of your engagement with the world 
• understanding the implications of your decisions and how your decision-making impacts others 
• developing interpersonal sensitivities and an equity-focused mindset 

Opportunities to develop this skill include:

Represent students’ academic interests within your School and the wider University. Listen to and advocate for students with different backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints.

Deliver community engagement sessions centred around practical sport and education. Work with schools, clubs and organisations that are passionate about giving back to the community.

Adaptability and resilience

Strengthen your adaptability and resilience through:  

• developing the ability to deal with problems and setbacks constructively and being able to learn through failure as well as success 
• perseverance 
• flexibility 
• coping with ambiguity 

Opportunities to develop these skills and attributes include:

Explore the cycle of low mood. Understand why you, or someone else, can feel low and unmotivated. Learn practical tools and skills to improve wellbeing.

Develop wellbeing and life skills. Access self-help resources chosen in partnership with the University's Student Health and Wellbeing Service.