Degree Path and Professional Networking
Introduction
Education is one of the most reliable tools that can be used in the world from a personal level to the national level. Education gives individuals opportunities to pursue careers that suit needs and interests (Apple, 2012). The current world is characterized by increased competition for employment opportunities. Therefore success in any career does require not only academic qualifications but also commitment towards achieving some goals, competence, and a good networking strategy (Bodell & Hook, 2011). Therefore, the core purpose of this task is to describe my degree path and specialization, networking strategies, application of the chosen degree path, and specialization in solving the problem and identify professional goals.
Degree Path and Specialization
My degree path is in education, majoring in technology. There is a common belief among people that when you major in education, you can only become a teacher. However, this is a myth and misconception (Audsley, 2019). There is a wide variety of jobs and career paths for those to pursue a degree in educations. These opportunities include school counseling, educational leadership, education technology, special education, early childhood development, adult education, and pedagogy, among others (Audsley, 2019). In my case, I am planning to pursue a degree in education, and I have a passion for technology and leadership. As a result, I will pursue a degree in education and specialize in technology. In the future, I will pursue a master’s degree in the same line to get an opportunity to venture into educational leadership.
Networking Strategies
As stated earlier, career success does not purely depend on academic qualifications but also on the network that one has in the industry. Professional networking is built by creating professional relationships with people working in the same industry (Grossman & Arnold, 2011). Professional networking enables people to get mentors, learn new trends and best practices in the industry, and give insider information when one is considering moving (Chisenga & Chande-Mallya, 2012). Besides, professional networking enables one can get opportunities that are not in the public domain creating a competitive advantage when looking for a job opportunity. The core purpose of professional networking is to build a professional relationship that goes beyond exchanging business cards. There are various strategies that are used in professional networking, depending on the nature of the job and the industry as a whole. In my case, I will use the following strategies to network.
First, is attending local and national educational events, seminars, and workshops. These events are attended by people who have the same interest, and as a result, it will be possible to know more new people in the industry and also form a professional network (Grossman & Arnold, 2011). The second strategy that I will use to build a professional network is using professional social media platforms to connect with people who have the same interest as mine. In particular, I will use LinkedIn to connect with other professionals in my career path. Further, I will use other social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, and WhatsApp to communicate with my classmates even after school to ensure there is regular communication, which strengthens professional communication (Chisenga & Chande-Mallya, 2012).
The above-identified strategies will support professional collaboration by ensuring that there is an interaction between people who are in the same profession. The network allows people to exchange ideas through regular interactions, which strengthens the professional network and extend it beyond the local boundaries.
Application of Degree Pathway and Specialization
In the recent past, the world is characterized by technological advancement, which has significantly transformed different sectors of the economy and also how activities are carried out at the individual level. Technology has also trickled in education, and as a result, there is a need for learners to understand the use and impact of technology. This can only be done through education that is more technological-oriented. This can also be done by using technology in the classroom and also developing innovative technologies to be used in learning, such as interactive whiteboards and visual displays for diagrams.
In addition to my passion for technology, I also have an interest in leadership. As a result, I will pursue a master’s degree in education and specialize in education leadership. This career path will allow me to lead learning and transform institutions. In the case study chosen, Rogal College wants to improve its national standards as an undergraduate institution. Therefore this would have give me an opportunity to lead the transformation of this institution.
Personal and Professional Goals
The following goals will support the chosen degree pathway.
Personal goal
To be more proactive and improve my interpersonal skills
Professional Goal
To build and improve professional relationships both within and outside the organization.
The personal goals will make me adopt a proactive strategy in implementing the proposed change. At the same time, interpersonal skills will be essential to manage the teams responsible for implementing change in Rogal College. The professional goal will help to build and maintain a professional network within and outside the organization. This will be important in building relationships with external bodies such as the accrediting bodies, and this may fasten the implementation process.