| The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of professional development experiences on the career competencies of Continuing Higher Education Unit Leaders. In the American system of higher education, a Continuing Higher Education Unit Leader manages an administrative unit that offers educational programs to adult learners (Cranton, 1996). To face the challenges brought forth by disruptive innovation, Continuing Higher Education Unit Leaders need to improve their career competencies in order to perform successfully in their professional role. Participation in professional development experiences is a common way to develop these career competencies. This qualitative research study examined the professional development experiences of 10 Continuing Higher Education Unit Leaders to analyze their effectiveness in building career competencies. Utilizing the portraiture methodology, six themes emerged from the research study: Diversity of Career Journeys, Factors Influencing Participation in Professional Development Experiences, Reasons for Participation in Professional Development Experiences, Types of Professional Development Experiences, Gaps in Professional Development Experiences, and Strengths in Professional Development Experiences. Discussion and analysis of these six themes form the groundwork for a proposed competency-based professional development model to guide the future professional development experiences of Continuing Higher Education Unit Leaders. |
