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Aims | Highlights | Participants | Objectives | Contents | Date & Registration | Case Studies
Course Title: 2-Day Course of Design Thinking for Graduates: Navigating the Transition from University to Workforce
Course Aims
Graduating from university and stepping into the workforce is one of the most significant transitions in a person’s life. This phase brings exciting opportunities for independence and growth but also challenges such as managing workplace expectations, building new skills, balancing professional and personal life, and planning for long-term career success.
This course is specifically tailored for university graduates preparing for this major life shift. It applies the principles of Design Thinking, a human-centered, problem-solving methodology, to help graduates proactively navigate this transition. By focusing on empathy, creativity, experimentation, and adaptability, participants will gain the tools to reframe challenges, craft innovative solutions, and design a meaningful path from learner to professional.
This program equips graduates to tackle their new professional journey with confidence, creativity, and clarity. By integrating AI-powered tools with Design Thinking strategies, this course empowers graduates to:
- Build self-awareness to understand their strengths, career aspirations, and areas for growth.
- Adapt to professional environments and thrive in new roles.
- Plan effectively for short-term job success and long-term career goals.
- Develop meaningful professional relationships and build a support network.
Course Highlights
AI tools, combined with Design Thinking, provide innovative ways to help graduates transition from university to the workforce. These tools make it easier to explore career paths, develop strategies, and visualize success.
- AI Analytics Tools: Platforms like ChatGPT 4-o assist graduates in analyzing potential career paths, identifying key skills, and understanding how to meet workplace expectations effectively.
- AI Brainstorming Tools: Tools like Stormz inspire graduates to develop creative strategies for adjusting to workplace culture, solving problems, and achieving career growth.
- AI 2D-Visualization Tools: Tools like Dall-E help participants visualize career milestones, set achievable goals, and stay motivated throughout their journey.
- AI 3D-Visualization Tools: Advanced platforms like AICG simulate real-life work scenarios, enabling graduates to anticipate challenges and refine their decision-making processes.
Targeted Participants
- University Graduates: Students who are completing their studies and preparing to enter the workforce.
- Career Starters: Graduates eager to build professional skills, adapt to workplace environments, and manage the expectations of their first job.
- Personal Growth Seekers: Individuals looking to align their career choices with their personal values, passions, and long-term goals.
- Work-Life Balancers: Those seeking strategies to manage job responsibilities while maintaining personal well-being and planning for career growth.
Course Objectives:
This course empowers graduates to make a successful transition from academic life to the professional world. Using Design Thinking principles, participants will learn to approach challenges creatively, think strategically, and develop skills for long-term success.
By the end of the program, participants will be able to:
- Understand Themselves Better: Build self-awareness to identify their strengths, values, and career aspirations while addressing uncertainties about entering the workforce.
- Solve Workplace Challenges Creatively: Apply Design Thinking techniques to adapt to workplace environments, solve problems, and develop innovative solutions.
- Plan Their Career Path: Design a clear and actionable career trajectory that aligns with personal passions and long-term goals.
- Build Professional Relationships: Learn how to network, collaborate with colleagues, and foster meaningful connections in the workplace.
Course Contents
Pre-Course Preparation
- Take a guided self-assessment quiz to reflect on career aspirations, transferable skills, and concerns about entering the workforce.
- Use an AI visualization tool to map out your vision for the first 5 years of your career.
Session 1: Discovering and Empathizing with Your Transition to Work [Life Design Tool list]
- Stakeholder Mapping: Identify the key people in your professional journey (e.g., mentors, managers, colleagues) and understand how they impact your growth and success.
- Self-Empathy Exercises: Guided journaling and AI-generated prompts to explore fears, expectations, and motivations surrounding the transition to the workplace.
Session 2: Defining Your Professional Identity and Career Path [Life Design Tool list]
- Persona Development: Create a detailed profile of your “professional self” to understand your strengths, potential roles, and opportunities for growth in the workplace.
- Career Journey Mapping: Design a visual timeline that connects your academic achievements to your future milestones, helping you align your goals with actionable steps.
Session 3: Developing Strategies for Professional Success [Life Design Tool list]
- Iteration Methods: Explore multiple approaches to workplace challenges, such as adapting to new roles, developing skills, and managing work-life balance. Use AI brainstorming tools to refine your strategies.
- Prioritization Mapping: Use prioritization frameworks to focus on high-impact goals while managing time and energy effectively.
Session 4: Delivering Your Career Action Plan [Life Design Tool list]
- Prototyping Career Milestones: Create prototypes for important milestones, such as excelling in your first job, building a professional network, or mastering new technical and soft skills. Use AI visualization tools to refine and test your plan.
- ACES Feedback Analysis: Receive actionable feedback from peers, mentors, and AI tools to evaluate the feasibility and impact of your strategies.
Follow-Up Sessions
- Monthly Check-Ins: Virtual sessions to monitor progress, share experiences, and refine strategies as needed.
- AI-Enhanced Feedback Tools: Continued access to AI platforms for self-reflection, goal tracking, and strategic planning.
- Professional Network Support: Opportunities to connect with fellow participants and industry mentors for collaboration, advice, and motivation.
Course Leaders and Training Facilitators
Our training team is composed of seasoned, internationally certified Design Thinking facilitators. Throughout the training process, they will share proven strategies and hands-on expertise in applying Design Thinking to career and life planning. With their professional and actionable methods, participants will swiftly incorporate the fundamental principles of Design Thinking into their career and life planning, thereby elevating both the innovation and practicality of their approaches.
Date, Time, Tuition Fee and Certification
Duration: 2 Days
Date: For In-house Only
Time: N/A
Language: Cantonese or English with English Materials
Mode: Physical or Online
Tuition Fee: N/A
Online Registration and Inquire
Certification: Upon completing the course and all related exercises, participants will receive a Digital Certificate of “Design Thinking for Life Planning” and a Digital Badge from the DesignThinkers Academy. These credentials are securely issued through a blockchain-based global certification management system.
Leveraging Design Thinking for Life Development and Transition: A Global and Local Perspective
Design Thinking has been effectively employed worldwide for career development and transition across diverse sectors. Notable figures such as Joe Gebbia in Hospitality, Jane Chan in NGOs, Kiran Sethi in Children’s Education, Paula Davis in Coaching, and Martha Moore in Apparel have leveraged this approach.
Also noteworthy is its prevalent use in Hong Kong for career progression and pivoting among individuals with varied backgrounds. In response to this, we have orchestrated a series of seminars and webinars on “Design Thinking for Life Planning and Transition,” featuring dialogue with 13 distinguished Design Thinkers from Hong Kong. They are 吳克儉院士、林小湛教授、林偉雄院士、李潔蘭校長、鄧哲平先生、梁智軒博士、葉文謙先生、陳呂令意校長、唐文標律師、尹繼賢博士、林偉強博士、孫美妮女士 及 黎嘉豪先生 (Ordered by sequence of the interviews). We want to express our deepest gratitude to the following guest speakers for their voluntary contributions.
