What qualities do professionals have?

Answers:

• Professional knowledge
• Professional skills and techniques
• Generic workplace skills

 

• Professional knowledge - Every profession has its own body of knowledge. A professional has a comprehensive understanding of this body of knowledge, and contribute to it through practice and research.
• Deep understanding - A deep understanding enables a professional to use knowledge of the profession to do a great variety of things, e.g., explain how something works, make professional decisions, create solutions, etc. Your level of understanding is in part a result of your approach to learning.

• Mastery - Professionals are highly skilled in utlizing tools and techniques of their professions, e.g., a competent nurse can handle a needle to give an injection with unerring precision.
• Theory and practice - The mastery of skills by professionals goes beyond the execution of a series of prescribed actions; professionals must also understand the theory behind the actions, which helps them decide when to do what.

• Professionals at work - There is a range of qualities that professionals share regardless of their discipline ("generic competence"), e.g., all professionals need to communicate well, solve problems, work in teams, etc. Here are the generic attributes valued at PolyU:

Critical thinking, Creativity, Problem solving, Communication, Teamwork, Leadership, Interpersonal effectiveness, Entrepreneurship, Global outlook, Cultural appreciation, Lifelong learning, Social and national responsibility