Introduction to Academic Skills I

Full course description

The transition from secondary to tertiary education is often experienced as a rather challenging one for students, especially considering the expectations at university with regard to students’ academic skills, such as essay writing, critical and analytical thinking, or skills such as argumentation. It is therefore imperative to support and train students right from the start to take on a professional ethos with regard to their university studies and their personal and academic development. The skills course Introduction to Academic Skills consists of a semester-long program spanning three periods. In this skills course students are encouraged to take their academic development into their own hands. Seminars, practical sessions and (written) assignments will focus on acquainting students with the core academic skills needed to be successful at university. Moreover, the sessions are set up in such a way that students will be able to put their newly acquired skills and insights into practice in the courses that run parallel to this skills course. Through continuous reflection on their personal learning process in combination with periodical assessment of this process, students will be able to conclude this course with a clear overview of their competencies with regards to general academic skills as well as specific skills such as: academic study skills, research skills, analytical and critical thinking skills, academic writing skills, (time) management and organizational skills. Successful completion of SKI1008 is essential to be able to register for SKI1009 Introduction to Academic Skills II.