An insight into the Global Professional Award
We wanted to give you a flavour of what’s involved on the Global Professional Award, so we sat down with one of our recent participants, Jenny, to find out a bit more about her time on the GPA program. In our chat, Jenny discusses what drew her to the GPA, how she managed it alongside her degree and which skills she believes it’s helped her strengthen over the three years.
So, without further ado, let’s hear from Jenny…
UOH: Jenny, thanks for speaking with us. Can you tell us a little about yourself...
JENNY: My name is Jenny Mengistu, I am a third-year student, studying Law (LLB) full time. I’m from Huddersfield but studied my A-Levels at Notre Dame in Leeds. I then went onto take a gap year where I studied in France for a year on the France-Switzerland border. I studied French full time for a year and travelled all over France. I then began my studies in Law at the University of Huddersfield. My interests include skiing, I go to Snozone in Castleford to practice. I love music and have begun learning to DJ, I’m also a big Gym fan and train 3 times a week.
I am very passionate about social inequalities and helping to bridge that gap, so I volunteer with the Women’s network, BAME network and I also help raise funds for the Law School Challenge (a national fundraising challenge to raise money for legal aid charities that help provide free legal aid to those who cannot afford it).
What inspires you and motivates you?
My mother inspires me. As a single parent she has motivated me to give everything my best and to chase my dreams. She has shown me this is possible by swapping careers in her late 40s from nursing to starting her own Ethiopian restaurant by herself.
What area of work are you hoping to go into after university?
I would like to go into some type of charity work or United Nations work. I am keen on working with women and children and helping them on a larger scale.
Where did you hear about the Global Professional Award and what made you decide to take part?
I was enrolled on the course in my first year at the University of Huddersfield and heard about the volunteering opportunity at the beginning of second year.
What are you hoping to get out of the GPA?
I am keen to learn key employability and career skills, such as working effectively with strangers and people I know and learning to communicate verbally as well as through my writing. These are skills I continue to practice in the GPA workshops.
How does the GPA work alongside your degree course?
Between my classes, I had timetabled GPA workshops which I attended. There weren’t many workshops, so it didn’t stress or overwhelm me. I still had enough time to study for my degree and get my GPA tasks done as well. It has helped me be more professional in my communication during my Legal Advice Clinic module. The GPA has also allowed me to communicate clearly when conducting student interviews and while writing letters of advice.
How has the GPA helped enhance your enterprise skills and employability?
The volunteering option introduced me to many stalls and workshops that I could assist, as well as attending group meetings to discuss the accessibility of workshops and also quieter workshop sessions. These allowed me to practice being a professional and gave me opportunities to refine my communication skills, all of which could be included on my CV.
How do you put these skills into practice?
I help run stalls for the Women’s Network. We’ve held 2 period poverty stalls where we handed out free period products. Through this, people I know saw me at the stall and on our social media channels and they contacted me with more pads and toiletries to donate to the University. I’ve assisted stalls on raising awareness for sexual violence around campus and I’m also a part of the BAME Network, where we collected stories from students on their experiences as minorities and their time studying. The plan is to turn these stories into an exhibition. Ultimately, through the GPA, I have developed collaboration and communication skills to help execute these events with others.
What have you learned about wellbeing and how do you use this in your life?
I have learned the importance of organisation, planning your weeks ahead whilst studying to allow yourself time to rest mentally and physically. And how to plan time for studying in an efficient way so that you don’t have to stay up all night studying. It’s helped me create study systems e.g. the pomodoro technique. It’s also emphasised the importance of community in your wellbeing, as the GPA team hold get togethers for volunteers with snacks, coffee, hot chocolate and other treats where we can take part in activities like quizzes. It’s not about planning GPA workshops but putting a focus on having fun together.
What has the GPA taught you about global and social awareness? And how has that changed you?
It’s taught me that we should care about and be aware of the communities around us, the other students around us and the importance of putting ourselves in others’ shoes whilst you develop. The GPA module gives us skills and a qualification that others don’t have the opportunity to get.
How will the skills you have learned through the GPA inform your approach to life after university?
These skills will help me draw on situations and examples for interviews and help me communicate efficiently when speaking to people from all walks of life. It will also help me to remember to have that work/life balance which can slip away when you want to help with everything. I believe it will help me prepare for applying for jobs as I have CV and job application writing skills and can effectively write and analyse my strengths and weaknesses and communicate them to others. Ultimately, the GPS will help me with my professional self-awareness.
Finally, what are your thoughts on the GPA program and how it has impacted your time at the University of Huddersfield?
The GPA program was brilliant. Each year has helped me develop my professional persona and has encouraged me to build my confidence, participating and volunteering with groups I wouldn’t have dreamt of in my first year. It has given me a professional community where I have had the opportunity to meet other students from all walks of life and learn from them and them learn from me. The support and encouragement from the GPA staff has helped me participate in workshops and allowed me to assist where comfortable. It has also allowed me to practice communication whilst being a GPA champion at stalls which has been a highlight.
Thanks Jenny!
Find out more about the Global Professional Award, and if you want to hear more from recent students, take a look at our student blogs.
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