Student Development
The Najim center offers personal & professional development for students as they navigate college life and make that transition from college to career. Our development is 3 dimensional and empowers students to innovate who they are through discovery, development, and design principles.
We welcome roadrunners of all classifications, backgrounds, and experience levels to start where you are and Innovate Yourself in 3D.
Self-Discovery – explore your strengths and values through digital badge programs
Skill Development – Develop new skills for navigating college, relationships, and the workplace
Life Design – Design your career & life through academic and co-curricular life design offerings
Our Development Philosophy
Design thinking, innovation, and active learning are at the core of our student development philosophy. We believe that people learn best by participating in experiences, collaborating in diverse groups, and reflecting deeply. We also believe in using design thinking to help you design a well-rounded life that is coherent with who you are, how you view life, and what you want to do.
Design Thinking
Design thinking gives you skills to solve problems and build your way forward through empathy, ideation, radical collaboration, and prototyping.
Innovation
The best ideas come when groups of students from different majors, classifications, and backgrounds come together to radically collaborate and gain new perspectives. Diverse thinking helps individuals break down common ways of thinking and reframe challenges for both careers and life.
Active Learning
Students take ownership of their personal and professional development by participating in experiences and gaining tangible skills for navigating personal and professional environments, working in teams, and designing a meaningful life.
How can I Get Involved?
A Digital Badge will be awarded upon completion of each program.
Building Your Strengths
Clifton Strengths - Take the CliftonStrengths survey to discover your “Top 5” CliftonStrengths and attend an interactive session to explore how to use those strengths for future success.
Mental Strength + Career Decision Making - Engage in virtual activities that help you find your passion, build self-awareness, overcome mental blocks, manage stress, and create your vision for the future!
Values & Healthy Boundaries
Participate in a series of self-guided reflections to clarify your values and practice setting healthy boundaries in your personal and professional life.
Rowdy Intern Video Series
Learn how to become a Rowdy Intern, from start to finish in this interactive video series! It will help you find an internship, become a rock star intern, and unpack your experience. No matter where you are in your internship journey, you can select the video of your choice and start there!
Check out the Rowdy Intern Video Series on the Najim Center’s YouTube Channel
Najim Advocacy Program
Are you interested in growing personally and professionally and cultivating change in your community? Join the Najim Advocacy Program and learn the basics of advocacy through the Social Change Model, as well as take action on a community cause you are passionate about. During this 2 semester program, you will explore the connection between individual, group, and community values and complete a community advocacy project in San Antonio.
This is a PAID experience. Applications are open through August 30, 2023.
Career-Engaged Learning Course (UCS 2013)
Spring 2024
Further explore yourself and future career through this interactive course! Learn how to “tell your story,” and network effectively by showcasing your talents and skills. Build your radical collaboration, market research, and communication skills by working in a team to solve a real-world problem for a local company. Register through your myUTSA account with the CRN number 40160.
Career Innovation Summit
Will return in 2025
With the ever-changing job market, the need to think about careers in a new way has never been greater! Join us and develop leadership skills as you engage in self-reflection, team challenges, vision casting, and action planning.
Personal Career Planning (UCS 2033)
Spring 2024
Join us for an interactive and innovative approach to career planning using design thinking! Through self-reflective and group activities, you will ideate, experiment, and radically collaborate with peers to design your path forward as a college student, for your career and your life. Register through your myUTSA account with the CRN number 44048.
