Personal Development Planning (PDP)

This process helps students to reflect on their goals, academic and career objectives and develop plans to support their development and achievement
Paperwork, Courtesy of shutterstock

Personal Development Planning (PDP) is defined by the QAA as 'a structured and supported process undertaken by a learner to reflect upon their own learning, performance and/or achievement and to plan for their personal, educational and career development'. 

PDP helps students to:

  • become more effective at monitoring and reviewing their progress
  • consider how they learn and become more effective learners
  • recognise and articulate their strengths and weaknesses
  • identify extra curricula opportunities outside the curriculum
  • enhance their employability through greater self-awareness, self-direction and an ability to articulate their learning to employers
  • think about how their academic, personal and career and development relate to each other.

All students at the University of Plymouth are supported with PDP at programme level, via embedded activities in the curriculum, further facilitated by their personal tutor. Students have the opportunity to manage their PDP using the University e-portfolio tool. This enables students to collect their plans, experiences and reflections in one place. These can be compiled into other forms such as a CV and can be shared with others, such as a potential employer.

Students are also assisted in their personal development by the University via services such as the Careers Service.

PDP resources

School of Law delivers the Graduate Employability and Achievement Record (GEAR) model of PDP. Year 1 covers the transition to university learning and start of career planning, Year 2 the development of academic skills and career development and Year 3 refinement of academic skills and career development. The GEAR DLE pages provide a wealth of information

Plymouth Law School provide a structured series of PDP modules across all three years of their programme. These are called the Graduate Employability and Achievement Record – GEAR1, GEAR2 and GEAR3. The LAWGEAR links take you to the DLE sites for these modules, where you can find out how the Law School supports, resources and assesses their PDP.

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