Marca Wolfensberger

Characteristics of highly talented international business professionals defined : qualitative study among international business professionals

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the characteristics of talent in relation to international business to facilitate selection and development of talent in human resources (HR) and human resource development (HRD). , – A mixed method design was used: focus groups with business professionals to identify the characteristics of highly talented international business professionals (HTIBP), resulting in a concept profile; Delphi study for validation; systematic comparison of the open coding results to existing literature to identify characteristics of talent. , – A specific and concise profile of HTIBP has been developed. This profile has five domains: achieving results; communicating; innovating; self-reflecting; seeing patterns and interrelationships in a global context. From literature cross-referencing, we have identified innovating, being creative and having a drive to achieve results are most distinguishing for HTIBP. , – The paper facilitates an ongoing discussion about what constitutes talent, and offers new perspectives for companies to consider when selecting and developing talent. , – The conceptual contribution of the paper offers a fresh and practical empirical perspective on what talent entails.

The relationship between ethical sensitivity, high ability and gender in higher education students

Abstract This study examined the ethical sensitivity of high-ability undergraduate students (n=731) in the Netherlands who completed the 28-item Ethical Sensitivity Scale Questionnaire (ESSQ) developed by Tirri & Nokelainen (2007; 2011). The ESSQ is based on Narvaez’ (2001) operationalization of ethical sensitivity in seven dimensions. The following research question was explored and subjected to a Mann-Whitney U Test: Are there any differences in ethical sensitivity between (1) academically average and high-ability students, and (2) male and female students? The self-assessed ethical sensitivity of high-ability students was higher than that of their average-ability peers. Furthermore, female students scored higher on ‘taking the perspectives of others’. These results imply that programs for high-ability students incorporating ethical issues could build upon characteristics of this group.

What constitutes an excellent allied health care professional? A multidisciplinary focus group study.

Background Determining what constitutes an excellent allied health care professional (AHCP) is important, since this is what will guide the development of curricula for training future physical therapists, oral hygienists, speech therapists, diagnostic radiographers, and dietitians. This also determines the quality of care. Aim To describe perspectives of AHCPs on which characteristics are commonly associated with an excellent AHCP. Methods AHCPs’ perspectives were derived from three focus group discussions. Twenty-one health care professionals participated. The final analysis of the focus group discussions produced eight domains, in which content validity was obtained through a Delphi panel survey of 27 contributing experts. Results According to the survey, a combination of the following characteristics defines an excellent AHCP: (1) cognizance, to obtain and to apply knowledge in a broad multidisciplinary health care field; (2) cooperativity, to effectively work with others in a multidisciplinary context; (3) communicative, to communicate effectively at different levels in complex situations; (4) initiative, to initiate new ideas, to act proactively, and to follow them through; (5) innovative, to devise new ideas and to implement alternatives beyond current practices; (6) introspective, to self-examine and to reflect; (7) broad perspective, to capture the big picture; and (8) evidence-driven, to find and to use scientific evidence to guide one’s decisions. Conclusion The AHCPs perspectives can be used as a reference for personal improvement for supervisors and professionals in clinical practice and for educational purposes. These perspectives may serve as a guide against which talented students can evaluate themselves.

Identifying competence characteristics for excellent communication professionals: A work field perspective

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to clarify which knowledge, skills and behaviors are used to describe excellent performance in professional communication. As the demand for talented communication professionals increases, organizations and educators need an empirically defined set of performance criteria to guide the development of (potentially) excellent communication professionals (ECPs). This research aimed to render a competence profile which could assist in the development of recruitment, training and development to develop relevant programs for high-potential communication practitioners. Design/methodology/approach This mixed-method research was approached in two phases: first, a series of focus groups (n=16) were held to explore work field perspectives resulting in a concept profile, and second, a series of expert panels (n=30) following the Delphi method were conducted to determine the extent of agreement with the findings. Findings Participants clarified that excellent performance is characterized by competences which transcend normative technical skills or practical communication knowledge. The five domains, 16 item “SEEDS” competence profile describes that ECPs are distinguished by their compounded ability to be strategic, empathic, expressive, and decisive and to see patterns and interrelationships. Research limitations/implications Although a broad range of relevant professionals were involved in both phases, the study could be considered limited in size and scope. Research was conducted in one national setting therefore further research would be necessary to confirm generalizability of the results to other cultural contexts. Originality/value Although many competence frameworks exist which describe normative performance in this profession, specific criteria which illustrate excellent performance have not yet been identified. This competence profile clarifies characteristics which typify excellent performance in professional communication and can be helpful to educators and employers who wish to identify and create suitable training programs for ECPs.

International Perspectives on the Profile of Highly Talented International Business Professionals.

ABSTRACT There is a global demand for talented managers and leaders. To meet this demand, higher education institutions are developing talent programs. However, international perception of talent is diffuse. In this study, our profile of highly talented international business professionals was internationally validated by 172 participants, representing East Asia and Western Europe. Results indicate consensus on three domains: communicating, achieving results, and seeing patterns and interrelationships in a global context. Strikingly, diverse country-specific interpretations of the accompanying behaviors were observed. The findings contribute to the talent literature and offer insights for educational practitioners when developing competence frameworks for talent or professionalization programs.

Introducing the Journal of the European Honors Council

The Board of the European Honors Council is honored to present the inaugural issue of the Journal of the European Honors Council. With this Journal, we aim to share knowledge and good practices regarding honors programs and talent development programs in higher education around Europe. To facilitate this exchange, we proudly publish this journal in full open access. In this short introduction we present the scope of the Journal, relating this to the general aims of the European Honors Council.

Preparing students for global citizenship: the effects of a Dutch undergraduate honors course

Using a mixed method approach, this case study investigates effects on the participating students () of an undergraduate honors course in the Netherlands, aimed at global justice citizenship. Knowledge about effects of global citizenship courses is still limited. The Ethical Sensitivity Scale Questionnaire and the Global Citizenship Scale were used in a pre- and posttest design to measure possible development in the moral and civic domain among the participants of the course. In the qualitative part, deductive content analyses of students’ work and students’ written reflection on the course, utilizing the theory-based curriculum guidelines Global Justice Citizenship Education, were performed. In addition, a follow-up blog and interview were analyzed to learn students’ perception on the effects of the course after half a year. Quantitative results show increased ethical sensitivity as well as global civic engagement and global competence among the participants. Qualitative results point in the same direction and provide deeper insights in the content of students’ learning and the perceived impact of the course on their attitudes and behavior. Results are discussed in relation to theory on justice-oriented global citizenship and honors pedagogies.

What establishes an excellent nurse? A focus group and Delphi panel approach

BackgroundOver the past few years, the complexity of the health care system in which nurses are required to practice has increased considerably, magnifying the need for excellent professionals with a specific set of knowledge, skills and attitudes. However, the characteristics that distinguish an excellent nurse have not yet been clarified.The aim of this study was to determine nurses’ perspectives regarding characteristics associated with an excellent nurse in order to elicit a conceptual profile.MethodA focus group design followed by Delphi panel content validation was utilized. Information regarding nurses’ perspectives was derived from six focus group discussions comprising 19 nurses involved in hospital practice and 24 nurses with experience in mental health care. The analysis of the focus group discussions resulted in nine domains whereby content validity was achieved with contributions from a Delphi panel survey with 26 professionals.ResultsAs determined by the survey, a combination of these specified aspects characterize an excellent nurse: analytical, communicative, cooperative, coordinating, disseminates knowledge, empathic, evidence-driven, innovative and introspective.ConclusionDetermining what establishes an excellent nurse according to experienced nurses is valuable as this information can influence the broadening curriculum for educating future nurses to meet the needs in the professional field, contributing to the quality of care. This conceptual profile can be used as a reference guide for supervisors and professionals to personally improve their clinical practice as well as for education.

A Comparative Perspective

This study reviewed the special provisions for talented students at 303 higher education institutions in 11 countries, with almost four million students altogether. In total, honors programs are found to be up and running at 72 Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in 6 countries. Over half of all institutions with honors programs are situated in the Netherlands. Many of the Dutch HEIs run more than one program, making the Dutch share in the total number of programs probably even higher. Germany, which accounts for around half of the total population of all countries in this book, has around a quarter of the HEIs with honors programs. Belgium, Denmark, Finland and Austria divide the remaining quarter. To explain some of the differences, this study compares two aspects that are relevant for the development of honors education in a certain country: first, the provisions for gifted and talented young people throughout the education system; and second, the selectiveness of higher education entry. Overall, a trend can be seen of more provisions for talented and motivated students. While there are many differences between countries, there are also similarities within the clusters of countries, suggesting that a similar language and/or culture produce a comparable view towards excellence. In most countries, attitudes and culture become more supportive of excellence.

Perspectives on Talent Development in European Higher Education

This key chapter draws five basic conclusions. First, from the early 2000s, talent development has been put higher on the agenda. The culture towards talent development has become more positive and has received a place in most educational philosophies. Second, the Netherlands clearly is the front runner in the development of honors programs. All Dutch research universities and all large universities of applied sciences have developed honors education. In all other countries in this book, the number of programs is still limited. Third, many countries focus on provisions for children in primary and secondary education. Fourth, it can be concluded that structures to support honors education are mostly lacking. Within countries, there is little organization. So far, the Netherlands is the only country with a nationwide organization to bring honors programs from different Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) together. The Sirius Program is also the only government-funded program subsidizing the development of new forms of honors education, and this program is coming to an end. The German state of Bavaria is the only one with a somewhat similar structure, in the government-subsidized Excellence Network of Bavaria. Finally, a common terminology is lacking. A myriad of terms is used to refer to the people and programs in this book.