Essential Key Skills and Key Qualities required
It is not essential that you have any existing Chinese language proficiency; a focus of the Programme is for you to gain language skills. As you will see from the Study China application form, we ask you questions relating to your motivation for wanting to participate, how the experience will support your current degree and future employability.
We also ask you to demonstrate how you possess the key skills and key qualities essential for the successful completion of this demanding and intensive three week programme. When considering your key skills and key qualities for the Study China application form, you may find it beneficial to spend a few minutes considering what experience, knowledge and skills you have gained in the following environments:
- Education
- Work/volunteering
- Extra-curricular activities
- Hobbies
Collect as many examples as possible. Look at each item separately; break them into smaller pieces and extract from each the skills displayed and the experience and knowledge gained. You may think that your involvement in a university club or society is not important, but it can demonstrate the key skills of team working and organisation. Fundraising for a charity or cause can demonstrate the key skill of interpersonal communication. Refereeing for a football match can demonstrate the key quality of maturity.
Listed below are the essential key skills and qualities required for participation in the Study China Programme, the application form asks you to provide brief, clear examples to demonstrate how you possess each one. Look at the examples that you have collected – choose the strongest example to evidence how you possess each of the essential key skills and qualities.
Essential Key Skills
Team working: You need to demonstrate that you are team player but also have the ability to take on responsibility and delegate to others. This skill is essential when quickly building positive working relationships that help everyone achieve the most from the Study China Experience.
Organisation: This is about showing that you can prioritise, work efficiently and productively, and manage your time well. If you are offered a place the Study China Programme you will have to meet a number of deadlines including applying for a visa, booking flights and arranging travel insurance. Often you will only have a limited amount of time to do this so it is important that you can demonstrate strong organisational skills.
Problem solving: You need to display an ability to take a logical and analytical approach to solving problems and resolving issues. Being in a foreign country can be stressful and problematic – it is essential that you are adept at problem solving.
Time management: The Study China schedule is intensive and you will need to manage your time successfully to balance the demanding academic requirements of the programme alongside experiencing and exploring the culture and local environment.
Ability to work under pressure: Study China will require you to work in a new and unfamiliar environment, therefore the ability to keep calm and not become overwhelmed or stressed is essential.
Interpersonal Skills: Study China programme will require you to utilise a range of skills in order to communicate and develop relationships. You will join a new group of students and lecturers – you will require strong interpersonal skills in order to integrate socially and academically.
Essential Key Qualities
Adaptability: Able to adapt quickly to new and unfamiliar environments, people and places.
Initiative: Demonstrate initiative to overcome problems and obstacles.
Common sense: Ability to apply common sense and logic to manage the associated challenges of living in a culture different to your own.
Resilience: Perseverance to not give up or become over whelmed by challenging or difficult situations.
Maturity: Emotional maturity, behaving in an appropriate, responsible and respectful manner. Consideration of how your actions affect others.
