Academic advisor

Academic advisors assist students, at post-secondary level, in recognising and achieving their educational goals. They advise students on their schedule selection of school programmes, communicate to them degree requirements, and assist them in career planning. Academic advisors also discuss the student’s academic performance and its implications and make suggestions for improvement including study advice. They also work closely with other university administrators and professors and ensure they are up to date on university or college regulation, program, or requirement changes.

The following job titles also refer to academic advisor:

degree program guidance practitioner
academic student advisor
degree program advisor
higher education advisor
degree program coach
post-secondary level student advisor
education advisor
student career guide

Master’s degree is generally required to work as academic advisor. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Academic advisor is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to academic advisor.

career guidance advisor
academic support officer
educational counsellor
learning mentor
admissions coordinator

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of academic advisor. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of academic advisor with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of academic advisor.

Counselling methods: Counselling techniques used in different settings and with various groups and individuals, especially concerning methods of supervision and mediation in the counselling process.
Curriculum standards: The governmental policies concerning educational curricula and the approved curricula from specific educational institutions.
Assessment processes: Various evaluation techniques, theories, and tools applicable in the assessment of students, participants in a programme, and employees. Different assessment strategies such as initial, formative, summative and self- assessment are used for varying purposes.
Education law: The area of law and legislation that concerns education policies and the people working in the sector in an (inter)national context, such as teachers, students, and administrators.
Curriculum objectives: The goals identified in curricula and defined learning outcomes.

These skills are necessary for the role of academic advisor.

Provide information on school services: Present information on the educational and support services of a school or university to students and their parents, such as career guidance services or offered courses.
Construct individual learning plans: Set up, in collaboration with the student, an individual learning plan (ILP), tailored to the student’s specific learning needs, taking into account the student’s weaknesses and strengths.
Provide information on study programmes: Provide information on the different lessons and fields of study offered by educational institutions such as universities and secondary schools, as well as the study requirements and employment prospects.
Monitor educational developments: Monitor the changes in educational policies, methodologies and research by reviewing relevant literature and liaising with education officials and institutions.
Listen actively: Give attention to what other people say, patiently understand points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times; able to listen carefully the needs of customers, clients, passengers, service users or others, and provide solutions accordingly.
Give constructive feedback: Provide founded feedback through both criticism and praise in a respectful, clear, and consistent manner. Highlight achievements as well as mistakes and set up methods of formative assessment to evaluate work.
Encourage students to acknowledge their achievements: Stimulate students to appreciate their own achievements and actions to nurture confidence and educational growth.
Advise on learning methods: Provide advice to help students study in a way that suits them best, propose different techniques such as using visual highlighting or speaking out loud, and help them draw up summaries and create learning schedules.
Counsel students: Provide assistance to students with educational, career-related or personal issues such as course selection, school adjustment en social integration, career exploration and planning, and family problems.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of academic advisor. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Learning needs analysis: The process of analysing a student’s learning needs through observation and testing, potentially followed by the diagnosis of a learning disorder and a plan for additional support.
Learning difficulties: The learning disorders some students face in an academic context, especially Specific Learning Difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, and concentration deficit disorders.
Psychology: The human behaviour and performance with individual differences in ability, personality, interests, learning, and motivation.
University procedures: The inner workings of a university, such as the structure of the relevant education support and management, the policies, and the regulations.
Labour market: The trends, functioning, and fluctuations of the labour market, career options, wages, unions, working population and the supply and demand of certain professions in a sector.
Education administration: The processes related to the administrative areas of an education institution, its director, employees, and students.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of academic advisor. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Cooperate with education professionals: Communicate with teachers or other professionals working in education in order to identify needs and areas of improvement in education systems, and to establish a collaborative relationship.
Assist in the organisation of school events: Provide assistance in the planning and organisation of school events, such as the school’s open house day, a sports game or a talent show.
Consult student’s support system: Communicate with multiple parties, including teachers and the family of the student, to discuss the student’s behaviour or academic performance.
Identify education needs: Identify the needs of students, organisations and companies in terms of provision of education in order to aid in the development of curricula and education policies.
Analyse education system: Analyse various aspects of the school and education system, such as the relation between the cultural origin of the students and their educational opportunities, the apprenticeship programmes or the objectives of adult education, in order to make recommendations to education professionals and decision makers.
Promote education programmes: Promote ongoing research into education and the development of new education programmes and policies in order to obtain support and funds, and to raise awareness.
Organise job search workshops: Organise group sessions for job seekers to teach them application techniques and to help them optimise their résumés and improve their interviewing skills.
Provide information on education financing: Provide information to parents and students concerning tuition fees, student loans and financial support services.
Provide career counselling: Advise beneficiaries on future career options through counselling and, potentially, through career testing and evaluation.
Tackle issues that block academic progress: Address the issues that can block a pupil`s school progress, such as social, psychological, emotional or physical difficulties, through counselling and intervention methods.

2359 – Teaching professionals not elsewhere classified

 

 

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References

1. Academic advisor – ESCO