Personal Development Planning (PDP), as defined by the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), is “a structured and supported process undertaken by an individual to reflect upon their own learning, performance and/or achievement and to plan for their personal, educational and career development.”  In other words, it is a process whereby students think about how they are progressing, and take action to improve their academic performance and career prospects. 

At the University of Leicester, PDP is delivered and supported at a departmental level, with academic departments implementing models of PDP relevant to their students  and courses.  However, we can support departments in the following ways:   

• taught sessions and workshops on academic skills, career planning and employability which relate to departmental PDP processes.  These might be offered alongside programmes of study or incorporated within existing modules;
• providing tools and exercises to enable students to reflect on their achievements, identify areas for improvement, and plan for their future progress;
• consultation and advice on ways in which they can best instigate, develop and articulate their practice in relation to PDP.

To discuss your department's implementation of, and support for, PDP you can contact Steve Rooney (sgr3@le.ac.uk).