by Zarah Koring

This week we are delighted to share an article from Zarah, who shares her experience of our final-year Professional Practice in Psychology module, where students work together in teams to tackle challenges provided by a wide range of organisations. And at the end of the year, they get the experience of presenting their findings and ideas directly to their organisation at the NTU Psychology Professional Practice conference. Translating psychological theory and research from the pages of academic journals to the ‘real world’ is a complex business, so Zarah and all our student teams have had to use and develop their psychological knowledge ,as well as a broad range of other important skills to understand their allocated challenge and make evidence-based recommendations.

My name is Zarah, and I recently completed the Professional Practice module as part of my final year of undergraduate psychology. At first, I was not excited about this module at all! I had to do presentations in front of audiences, work in teams, and interact with well-known organisations – all of which were things I would previously have avoided if possible. However, as I progressed through the module my perspective changed, and I want to share my experience of how this module actually turned out to be the most valuable one for me.

The academic and real-world benefits of this module were immense. It gave me a comprehensive understanding of the psychological issues that can arise within a workplace setting. Through collaborating with industry professionals and my fellow students, I had the opportunity to apply my theoretical knowledge to real-world problems and develop effective solutions, which is something that is really rare within a university setting. This allowed me to gain essential teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills that will be invaluable in my future career. 

Close up picture of several people putting their hands together, stacking them on top of each other as a gesture of teamwork.

Working in teams was daunting yet rewarding. The idea of collaborating with strangers to develop solutions to complex workplace issues was intimidating. But as we began to work together, I realised the many benefits of team collaboration. Working with others allowed me to gain new perspectives, share ideas, and build important communication and teamwork skills that will be invaluable in my future career. It also helped me to navigate group dynamics, resolve conflicts, and work towards a common goal. You may even end up having a laugh and making some friends along the way, so make sure you keep an open mind and enjoy the process as much as possible!

Having a psychology lecturer as a mentor was another valuable part of my experience in this module. Our lecturer provided me with personalised guidance and support throughout the course, helping me to navigate complex concepts and develop effective strategies for addressing workplace issues. Having a lecturer to provide guidance on a regular basis was incredibly beneficial, as they have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field. It also allowed us to feel more ‘in touch’ and engaged with the course whilst providing another point of contact and lecturer who helps you in terms of progression on a more personal basis aside from your tutor. This massively helped build mine and my teams confidence in preparation for the conference.

To help us with this preparation, we had several in-class practice presentations, and at first these were uncomfortable and the last thing I wanted to do on a Friday! But they provided us with personalised guidance in a comfortable and supportive environment to improve our presenting skills. After one or two shaky and relatively rubbish presentations, they actually turned out to be a relatively fun experience, allowing for team and personal progression. The experience of presenting regularly and in front of unfamiliar audiences was invaluable in building my confidence and developing my ability to communicate complex information to others. More importantly, they prepared us for the final conference presentation, in front of our allocated organisation.

Although this final presentation was something we were all collectively anxious about, it turned out to be a great experience and the more practice we had and the more work went into our presentation, the more our nerves transformed into excitement. By the day of the conference, we were ready to show off all of what we had to contribute to the organisation and attending the conference actually ended up being one of the most rewarding experiences; being able to speak confidently to a large group of people about a topic that three months ago I had no knowledge on was an achievement I will forever be proud of. It definitely helped alleviate so much stress for future presentations both at university and in the working world.

Background image of a classroom, with an audience sitting in red chairs, watching a student presentation. The following quote from Zarah's article is superimposed over the image: "Being able to speak confidently to a large group of people about a topic that three months ago I had no knowledge on was an achievement I will forever be proud of"

“Being able to speak confidently to a large group of people – about a topic that three months ago I had no knowledge on – was an achievement I will forever be proud of”

One of the most significant benefits of this module for me was learning the need for prioritisation and time management. It’s taught me how to manage my time effectively, even when working on a topic that I did not choose and did not find enjoyable (initially). In the real world, employees often work on projects that may not be their top priority, and knowing how to prioritise and manage time effectively is crucial for success. Even though my research project was my top priority during my degree, I realised that all modules needed attention and attendance regardless of how enjoyable or important you may find them, at the end of the day, they have been put in place for a reason. This compulsory module reflected real-world commitments extremely well, and it allowed me to change the way I approach undesirable tasks. It even drove me to immerse myself in them as much as possible to gain the most experience and skills.

Overall, despite the initial challenges, this module was a rewarding and valuable experience. It taught me important skills, gave me practical experience, and prepared me for the demands of the workplace. I hope you found my experience insightful, and that it helps you look forward to and gain the most from this module! As someone who has participated in a sandwich year and worked for a large company, I can say that this module reflects the realities of the working world, and the skills and experiences gained will be invaluable in my future career.

Woman standing on top of a mountain, silhouetted against a sunrise, holding hands aloft in celebration at the achievement of making it to the summit