Vice-Chancellor’s Professional Excellence Program (VCPEP)
Source: https://deakintalent.deakin.edu.au/vcpep/ Parent: https://deakintalent.deakin.edu.au/disc/
The Vice-Chancellor’s Professional Excellence Program, or VCPEP, is a personal and professional development program designed exclusively for Deakin students studying on a Vice-Chancellor’s Academic Excellence Scholarship or a Deakin Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship.
Scholars complete the VCPEP alongside their course, empowering them to achieve beyond their expectations, be ready for the careers of the future and make significant contributions to our community.
In the program scholars explore their personal aspirations and career opportunities through workshops and development meetings. They also meet regularly with an Academic Mentor. Scholars build their professional network and experience through tailored Personal and Professional Challenges. Each November, employers and university leaders join us to recognise scholars’ achievements at the VCPEP End of Year Celebration.
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Video Transcript
I think the scholarship program has so many flow-on effects into every area of my life. Every achievement that’s happened in my life can, in some way, be trickled back down to the VCPEP. I’m so honoured to be a part of the VCPEP. Deakin University’s Vice-Chancellor’s Professional Excellence Program, or VCPEP, is designed exclusively for Deakin students studying on a Vice-Chancellor’s International or Domestic Scholarship. Scholars from diverse walks of life pursue studies across all of Deakin’s faculties and campuses, from undergraduate through to postgraduate levels.
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The VCPEP is structured to support scholars through every phase of their course, building academic success, personal confidence, and career readiness. It’s such a unique experience that you won’t actually get anywhere else. You’re in a room with high-achieving individuals, and they’re aspiring to become even higher achievers.
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Each scholar is supported by a dedicated Deakin staff member that aligns with their career interests and aspirations, offering advice and insights throughout their journey. The academic mentor really showed me that there was a wide network of people that were willing to support me. My academic mentor went beyond the word “academic” for me. They guided me in my professional pursuit, helped me establish contacts within the industry, and also offered me a few opportunities within the academic faculty. I feel like he’s not just my academic mentor, but more like a friend I can lean on.
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Scholars receive personalised guidance from the VCPEP coordinator to help shape their career path and take the next step with confidence. These meetings were very important in helping me not lose sight of my goals. Development plan meetings are good because there are always new ideas bounced around in them, and it’s good to have someone to talk to.
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To grow the scholars’ professional skills and experiences and encourage them to push themselves outside of their comfort zone, each year they set a personal and professional challenge. Last year, I did set my own professional challenge. I started working with Glaucoma Australia. The personal challenge I set for myself was building my social confidence. Initially, when I came here, I found myself in a lot of intimidating situations. VCPEP provided me with an excellent platform where I could step out of my comfort zone. More than a program, the VCPEP is a community, one where shared experiences, encouragement, and collaboration shape each scholar’s path. The VCPEP empowers scholars to excel beyond their goals, prepare for emerging careers, and become changemakers in their communities. So the VCPEP, I believe, has been probably one of the best experiences that I’ve had in my life. From all these events and all these people I’ve met, I feel even more inspired to have a greater impact, not just on my own life, but on the society around me.
VCPEP activities
Induction
The program begins with an induction session to introduce scholars to their peers, the VCPEP and all the elements of the program.
Personal challenge
Each year, scholars undertake a personal challenge to develop their self-awareness, confidence, resilience and ability to achieve their personal goals.
Professional challenge
Each year, scholars step beyond their comfort zone to complete a professional challenge to build skills and experience relevant to their future career.
End of year celebration
We end the year with a fun and relaxed event that brings together all VCPEP scholars to celebrate the year that was and acknowledge the graduating cohort.
Individual support
Development plan meetings
Regular one-on-one meetings to support scholars in their transition to university, reflect on their progress and achievements, identify future goals and work through current challenges.
Academic mentor meetings
Regular one-on-one meetings with an Academic Mentor from a scholar’s faculty to assist in the transition to university, choice of major or specialisation, selection of internships and awareness of industry trends.