2026 (Current Year) Faculty Courses Liberal arts and basic science courses Entrepreneurship courses
Doctoral Developing Career Adaptability for Global Competitiveness
- Academic unit or major
- Entrepreneurship courses
- Instructor(s)
- Hazel Bantolino Gonzales
- Class Format
- Lecture (Livestream)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 5-6 Tue
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- ENT.C643
- Number of credits
- 100
- Course offered
- 2026
- Offered quarter
- 3Q
- Syllabus updated
- Sep 24, 2026
- Language
- English
※ Courses with parentheses in the course number have different subject codes depending on the student's year of admission.
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
In this course, doctoral students are introduced to the typical and exceptional challenges arising in a workplace out of their comfort zone, and students are consequently trained to cope with these challenges. Several in-class activities will urge students to demonstrate and enhance their adaptive skills. These activities are expected to foster new strategies and ideas that will help prepare students in facing the global environment.
Lectures on global competitiveness (with some actual examples from interviewed professionals) will further expose students to the increasing workplace diversity and the inevitability of the heightening international competition. The course aims to help students determine possible career paths, explore and enhance professional skills, and develop adaptive skills in a challenging professional world. To help attain these goals, doctoral students will undergo some career assessment tests/exercises through a workshop/in-class activity that simulates the actual work scenario.
Course description and aims
At the end of this course, doctoral students are expected to:
1. understand the importance of adaptability in career development;
2. develop work attitude in respective career paths and broaden work perspective; and
3. be ready for the possible career-related challenges in the future.
Keywords
adaptability; career management; skill development; personal assessment; global environment
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
The course is offered once a year, in the autumn semester (3rd quarter). Classes will be given online for 7 weeks. The course will cover preparations for an actual workplace scenario. Assessment of career adaptability will be done using core career adaptability dimensions. As the course progresses, there will be some in-class activities or exercises that mirror actual workplace environments that will help evaluate students' skills and foster these skills for a number of career opportunities in the future. Lastly, a collaborative group project will support students in completing their final report.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | October 6 (Tuesday), 13 : 30-15：10, Zoom |
Understand basic concepts and terminologies, know present career consideration and discuss current trends in the professional environment related to respective fields of study |
| Class 2 | October 13 (Tuesday), 13 : 30-15：10, Zoom |
Learn about the core dimensions of career adaptability and assess one's adaptability level using these dimensions. Identify areas where further improvement is needed. |
| Class 3 | October 20 (Tuesday), 13 : 30-15：10, Zoom |
Be aware of the current global trends in science and technology as well as be familiar with the actual job opportunities in the professional world that can match one’s interests and background |
| Class 4 | October 27 (Tuesday), 13 : 30-15：10, Zoom |
Explore the core components of career management and identify the essential skills required for long-term professional success. Identify current skills/abilities (intrapersonal and interpersonal), learn how to develop other skills for broader opportunities in the future, discuss specific skills required for a specific career to pursue. |
| Class 5 | November 10 (Tuesday), 13 : 30-15：10, Zoom |
Navigate career paths and core skills through technical and non-technical skills assessment. Gain insights from a professional's career journey and engage in dynamic discussions regarding real-world workplace experiences. |
| Class 6 | November 17(Tuesday), 13 : 30-15：10, Zoom |
Know the common challenges that arise in the professional environment (before, during and after deciding what career to pursue) and how to overcome them, learn coping strategies in actual situation through some exercises |
| Class 7 | November 24 (Tuesday), 13 : 30-15：10, Zoom |
Learn how to use the up-to-date knowledge in technology, apply experiences from challenging tasks, welcome opportunities for interactions with people. Explore the strategic value of workplace diversity and identify the cross-cultural competencies needed to thrive in a globalized society. |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course materials.
Textbook(s)
None
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Suggested Books:
1) Developing Cultural Adaptability: How to Work Across Differences (by Jennifer J. Deal and Don W. Prince)
2) Quick Skills: Managing Change (by Career Solutions Training Group)
3) Self-Assessment and Career Development (3rd ed.) (by John P. Kotter, Victor A. Faux and James G. Clawson)
Evaluation methods and criteria
Attendance and In-Class Participation (20%); In-Class Exercises and Homework Assignments (40%); Final Report (40%)
Related courses
- Other Career Design Courses
Prerequisites
None
Contact information (e-mail and phone) Notice : Please replace from ”[at]” to ”@”(half-width character).
gonzales.h.aa[at]m.titech.ac.jp
gonzales.b.04ec[at]m.isct.ac.jp
Office hours
Weekdays 9:00 - 17:00 (Consultation hours are by appointment and may be outside of the office hours.)
Other
GA: GA0D