**Call for Applications Now Open**

We are pleased to announce the next call for the First Steps into Management Digital Badge, in line with our commitment in the UCC Strategic Plan 2023-2028 to growing professional development for all staff led by UCC leaders and managers as role models towards embedding a strong culture of CPD. The programme is run twice annually.

The dates, times and locations of the workshops are outlined here: First Steps into Management - April & May 2024

Target Audience: SEA level / Grade 5 (or equivalent in the other staff categories) and who aspire to managing staff in future 

Application Process: Having discussed with your line manager, submit this form outlining why this programme is relevant to you at this stage in your career (400 word limit) highlighting the relevance to a) your role b) your unit & c) UCC Strategic Plan 2023-2028

Deadline to apply: Applications to be made via this MS Form by 5pm Friday 23rd February 2024     

First Steps into Management - April & May 2024

Criteria to apply & earn the Digital Badge:

1. Must attend all workshops
2. Must be willing to complete an MBTI questionnaire & follow up feedback session
3. This programme is open to all categories of staff at SEA / Grade 5 level & equivalent, early career academics, researchers & technical officers & who are not currently participating in the Effective Employee programme
4. Give a short presentation at the end to fellow participants / peers on personal learning from the programme. This will include a SMART goal outlining the contribution you will bring to your unit within 6 months as a result of participation, to be shared subsequently with your manager.

Hear from past participants of the programme on this short video

Programme Details

Staff feedback

• It has helped me to revaluate my people management skills. I feel equipped to implement change within my team to support them more effectively. Having learned more about my personality, I find what were once 'difficult people' much easier to deal with!
• The format of the programme was perfect. I was worried the course would be heavy being online - it was anything but. The engagement through breakout rooms was outstanding and I would recommend this course to anyone with the aim of leading a team.
• This programme gave me such an insight into Managment/Leadership styles and will help me plan my future in UCC. It covered much more than I expected and so much to take on board for my own development. 
• It has given me the confidence to step out of my comfort zone and be my own advocate.  It has also helped dealing with colleagues. The programme was great and well run online. I found it really engaging and interesting. In particular I enjoyed the session with Michelle Nelson.  
• Empathy, understanding and a good dose of patience combined with the knowledge gained from this course will be, I believe, invaluable to me as I continue to navigate our virtual working environment.  Whatever we can do to broaden and deepen our understanding of our colleagues will benefit everyone.  Hopefully I can contribute to that.
• The course gave me an insight into my preferences and some understanding of how this might affect how I react and behave. It also gave me a framework to use in working and relating to other people, whether direct colleagues, or people senior or junior to me.  
• It boots your confidence.  It's supportive of all personalities, so you accept yourself, but also accept other personality types, giving everybody at work a good chance to work as a more effective team. I thought it was an excellent course. It was run so well. All facilitators were flawless. Well done.
• Each workshop facilitator did a great job of keeping us all engaged, included & at ease.  It was excellently put together which obviously took a lot of effort & great to have all the slides to peruse at a later stage.  Good balance between information on presentations/slides and time for colleagues to get to know their peers in the breakout rooms. I particularly liked the videos that were sent to us as pre-reading. Michelle Nelson's session was a great choice for the final workshop, relaxing but thought provoking & challenging. The presentation to peers, although "nerve-wrecking" for all, is definitely an integral part of the programme and I think all participants will be glad that they played their small part. Thank you all, I am very appreciative that I was able to participate in the programme.

Updated: January 2024