Overview
Professional development is integral to graduate education at Princeton University. Professional development involves the systematic learning, acquisition, and application of skills and competencies that support graduate students’ scholarly and research goals while preparing them for professional success in diverse roles within the academic, public, and private sectors. We believe comprehensive professional development mutually reinforces doctoral training, creates equitable access to pathways within and beyond the academy -- and widens the aperture of opportunity for all Ph.D. students.
The core competencies in the GradFUTURES professional development model were recently expanded based on applied labor market research conducted by Emsi-Burning Glass, peer benchmarking, a recent Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) study, graduate alumni feedback, and Princeton’s institutional priorities. The two newest competencies added in December 2021 are:
- diversity, equity, and inclusion;
- innovation and entrepreneurship
GradFUTURES collaborates with partners across campus, graduate alumni, and industry partners to integrate programs, resources, and opportunities to assist all Princeton graduate students in learning, honing, and applying the following skills and competencies. It is important to recognize that all of the competencies below are in-demand and transferable in the Ph.D. labor market across all disciplines, career fields, and position types. Many of the competencies are interrelated and may be explored in any order based on a student's unique interests, needs, and goals.