Develop your employability skills

The MQ Skills Development Program (SDP) is an interactive program that helps you to develop employability skills sought after by employers, including problem solving, teamwork and growth mindset.

Skills Development Program icon The SDP consists of five mandatory workshops over the course of the session delivered on campus, plus additional elements as per below. As part of the SDP, you will be required to complete pre-readings and submit short reflections to demonstrate your learning.

(SDP will not be running in S1 2024 see below for dates in S2 2024).

Eligibility

  • Currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree. Postgraduate students who have not previously worked after their undergraduate studies are also eligible to apply.
  • Must be a currently enrolled student for Session 2, 2024
  • Second year and penultimate year students are given preference for places (to assist them to transition to employment and/or work integrated learning placements)
  • Domestic and international students from all faculties and disciplines at Macquarie University

To be awarded the Micro-Extra badge, all participants must:

  • Attend in full all four skill development workshops (dates below)
  • Submit all reflections as part of the program
  • Develop one additional employability skill in your own free time (but before the end of the program)
  • Spend a minimum of 8-10 additional hours developing your skills on an individual basis (e.g., creating an ePortfolio profile, completing the SDP workbook, completing online activities and pre-readings, and other homework tasks to be completed outside of workshops).

Program content

The program will cover the following skills:

  • Self-awareness and growth mindset
  • Teamwork and relationship management
  • Communication skills
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Problem-solving

S2 2024 workshop dates

  • Workshop 1: Self awareness and growth mindset - Wednesday, 14 August, 1.00pm - 2.30pm
  • Workshop 2: Teamwork and relationship management  - Wednesday, 21 August, 1.00pm - 2.30pm
  • Workshop 3: Communication skills  - Wednesday, 28 August, 1.00pm - 2.30pm
  • Workshop 4: Critical thinking and problem-solving skills   - Wednesday, 4 September, 1.00pm - 2.30pm
  • Workshop 5: Problem-solving - Wednesday, 11 September, 1.00pm - 2.30pm

Program benefits

  • Learn about key employability skills, put them into practice and get a head start in all things careers
  • Know your skills and learn how to market these successfully to employers
  • Increase your confidence and competence
  • Students who attend all sessions receive a micro-extra badge (micro-credential)
  • Completion of the SDP will be recognised on your Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS).
  • Applications opening in June 2024

Places will be allocated in order of receipt of application.

Testimonials

"If you're looking for a light-hearted, fun, and engaging program to learn how you sell your employability skills to employers, the SDP program is made for you"

"This program was super informative in looking at how to not only enhance my skills by apply my existing skills in my university and work life"

"I feel a lot more confident speaking about my skills, I feel as though acknowledging my skills has done a lot for me. I feel comfortable selling myself to prospective employers. My largest goal was to feel more confident when talking/leading/communicating/managing -and I feel as though the program really helped me with this. Overall, the program has aided me in marketing all of these skills."