Global Professional Award

Student Benefits

There are a number of benefits for students who complete the GPA:

• Improving your personal and professional development to help you on your future career path
• Receiving an internationally recognised Level 5 Award in Leadership and Management from the Chartered Management Institute (CMI)
• Meeting and networking with students from other courses and schools at the University and working alongside like-minded peers to improve you skills and knowledge
• Standing out from the crowd on graduation with a professional qualification and an impressive portfolio of work-related experiences

Graduate Attributes

Huddersfield's Graduate Attributes are the key skills you will develop on the GPA

• Self-motivated – you have the ability to do what needs to be done without being prompted by others

• Commercially aware – you have an understanding of the wider environment in which an organisation operates

• Enterprising – you are able to adapt your thinking and behaviour to suit changing circumstances.

• Resilient – you are driven, resolute and determined and able to deal positively with challenges

• Effective collaborator – you work well with others and have effective interpersonal skills 

• Confident leader – you are able to enthuse a group and motivate them to work towards an identified goal

• Globally and socially aware – you welcome new ways of thinking and can anticipate the impact of external situations

Year 1

This introductory year of the Global Professional Award offers workshops designed to help students settle into University life and to be effective in their studies, covering topics related to team work, wellbeing, and presentation skills, to name a few.

Download the Year 1 Journey Map as a PDF.

Year 2

As students continue their journey into Year 2, the focus moves towards employability skills in anticipation of placement year and how to find opportunities as they move closer to graduating from University.  This covers skills such as networking and how to find opportunities in the most effective way possible.

Download the Year 2 Journey Map as a PDF.

Year 3

As students venture into their final year of the Global Professional Award programme in Year 3, employability takes centre stage and the focus shifts to life after University.  Regardless of what comes next - further study, employment or being an entrepreneur - knowing about personal development planning, organisational culture, or what your rights are in the workplace, for example, are key skills that will help students be successful.  Having a CMI Level 5 award in Leadership and Management to go alongside those skills won't be a bad thing either!

Download the Year 3 Journey Map (PDF) as a PDF.

How students achieve the Global Professional Award

Each year, students engage with a series of trainer led workshops, self-directed activities and a selection of assessed items including reflective writing and developing a portfolio of professional and personal development activities.  Students are expected to:

• Engage with approximately 8 hours of interactive workshops (reduced to 8 hours in Year 3).
• Complete the assessments in each year, including 15 hour's worth of development activities as a contribution towards the programme's Electives portfolio.
• Develop additional personal and professional skills through 15 hour's worth of optional self-directed activities.

Download the GPA Process Map 2021 as a PDF.

How to get in touch

We are always happy to hear from people who have questions or want to know more information about the programme.  Reach out to us at gpa-team@hud.ac.uk and we will get back in touch with you soon.

If you are a student requiring support from us, you can email us or you can book an appointment with one of the training team through your Brightspace module.