About Me
I am currently a PhD candidate (final stages) at the University of Lapland, where my primary research interests lie in graduate employability and facilitation. My research focuses on University of Lapland students who are pursuing a general type of university education rather than a specific profession.
In my PhD study, I am exploring the 21st-century soft skills that are deemed crucial for obtaining employment in various fields. These skills, often referred to as “super skills,” encompass communication, motivation, initiative, and leadership.
My research on employability skills not only has the potential to advance academic understanding of essential competencies for employment but also holds significance for broader society and the working lives of new employees, particularly in the Arctic region. Through my facilitative workshop courses, graduates have the opportunity to practice and enhance vital soft skills such as communication, motivation, initiative, and leadership, using techniques like reflection, feedback, and experiential learning. These skills are highly sought-after in the professional world, as employers now value not only expertise in a specific field but also strong interpersonal and problem-solving abilities.
Recognizing the importance of my research, the Lapland Regional Cultural Fund has acknowledged its significant contribution by awarding me a one-year working grant in spring 2019. With a strong belief in my skills, experience, and personal motivation, I am dedicated to effectively completing my PhD research and making a meaningful contribution to employability in the Arctic region.
Upon the completion of my PhD, my ambitions extend to a career in research and teaching. Fueled by a long-standing passion for learning, facilitation, and employability, my goal is to share my knowledge and expertise in facilitation techniques across all levels of education. Through these efforts, I aim to contribute to the development of sustainable change, participation, and community engagement in the global North.
Updated 2023
Let’s start with the CV.
Educational Background
PhD in education 2018-present
Specialization in Facilitating Graduate Employability
University of Lapland Finland
My Research Question:How can students’ super skills of employability (communication skills, motivation/initiative skills, and leadership skills) be enhanced by using feedback, reflection and experiential learning workshops?
Education
Professional Experience
Web developer (Front end development, mostly as a freelancer) 2009-Present
As a front end developer I have grown from table-based layouts to div based layouts and from HTML5 to now WordPress. I have been working with web development for six years and I am very comfortable working as a front-end developer. I have an intermediate knowledge in SEO and Google analytics. I am also using social media integration in my latest projects by linking my sites to Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn via feed burner to using WordPress plugins such as JetPack and many more.
Professional Experience
Process Facilitator (John Bauer School, HiQ, SISU and Ericson) 2011-Present
As a Facilitator I have worked with four different companies in Sweden, representing four different sectors, individually and as part of a group. As a Facilitator I supported these organizations to identify, understand, tackle their biggest challenges, unlock their potential to develop and thrive in sustainable and agile ways. As a Facilitator, I am, in the simplest sense, an enabler of growth and change. Latest in the series is my MAster’s Thesis on Integration of group dynamics into Flipped Learning Pedagogical Model.
Professional Experience
Here you can contact me with your inquiries
Imran Riaz Chohan
Freelancer - Facilitator - Website developer
imranriazchohan@yahoo.com
0035844 9793245
Rovaniemi, Finland