Becoming a learning coach in academic settings: Challenging practices for sustainable self-directed learning

This book highlights the fact that personal development initiatives generated by the modern competitive labour market need to focus on individual knowledge, experience, growth and achievement of work-related objectives in workplaces for both the individual and the institution. This can be better achieved, not through simulating a working environment such as most accredited training organisations offer, but through well-defined in-service tasks that take into account the clear career progression needs of the individual. This would allow people to set up specific and measurable learning outcomes, in order to acquire skills that allow them to adapt to their job functions for a better individual or collective performance. It explores ways of developing coaching skills in academic settings, not through accredited training courses, but rather by following the self-directed learning route that is informed by continuing personal and professional development activities, action research for improvement, reflective practice and collaborative learning for quality enhancement.