ePortfolio and Personal Development Planning

Richy Hetherington - Development Co-ordinator

Simon Cotterill - Senior Research Associate

Lin James - Progress & Assessment Adminstrator

Today’s session • The e-Progression System• Why do you need this stuff? A very brief

history• The Development Programme• A quick demonstration of how the systems

work• Some time for you to try using the system• Identify sources of help and support for your

development• The opportunity to ask questions at any time

e-Progression

National Changes

Number of doctoral graduates has doubled in last 14 years Full time academic positions have not

Stats from HESA & Vitae

1995

/96

1996

/97

1997

/98

1998

/99

1999

/00

2000

/01

2001

/02

2002

/03

2003

/04

2004

/05

2005

/06

2006

/07

2007

/08

2008

/09

2009

/10

2010

/11

2011

/126000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

20000

22000

UK Doctoral Graduates

A changing employer environment

• Competency Frameworks

• Appraisal and feedback

• Performance Management

• Self Assessment

Roberts’ Report 2002• “Many employers do not initially pay those

with PhDs any more than they would a new graduate, viewing the training (particularly in transferable skills) that PhD students receive as inadequate preparation for careers in business R&D.”

• “Institutions are not adapting quickly enough to the needs of industry”

Joint Skills Statement & Recording

UK research councils devised a list of skills research students should gain

The Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) adopted this list and made it a requirement that research students should be able to record these skills

www.vitae.ac.uk (UK Grad)

Researcher Development Framework

ePortfolio has been developed so you can...

…record your research progress

…plan and monitor your professional development (PDP)

…reflect upon the skills you have gained

Booking sessions and Evaluation

ePortfolio (Research Training Portfolio - Online)

https://portfolio.ncl.ac.uk

About the Portfolio

Portfolio: Includes support for research skills Continue to use if you do a PhD.

Recording meetings with tutors/supervisors

Record and Reflect on Achievements

Awareness of transferable and specialist skills

Promoting your role in actively developing your research skills -- be more effective during your Masters / PhD -- broader research & transferable skills for your career

Express your skills and relate them to potential employers

Portfolios

Importance of skills and competencies in gaining

employment

Generic/transferable skills used in employment

“We spend more time planning our holidays than we do planning our lives !”

How to Record a Meeting

How to Record a Meeting

Prof Fred Smith

Please ensure that you record the attendees

Demonstration

Blog integrated with “My Skills”

Record your meetings with your supervisor(s)

• If you didn’t already do so register for this workshop on the training programme pages:

http://faculty-tools.ncl.ac.uk/training

• Log on to the portfolio: https://portfolio.ncl.ac.uk

• Spend some time exploring each section. Add a few records to your CV.

• Questions / Issues ?

Workshop Task #1

Personal DevelopmentPlanning Cycle

During your research, it is important to ..• Identify gaps in skills and knowledge• Identify opportunities to develop experience• Set goals and targets and get involved• Record what you did, how you did it, skills and

knowledge used and the final result• Review progress regularly and use progress

meetings to cover professional development

Self Assessment/PDP

Evidence can be drawn from…

• Research & Development Programme • Work experience• Interests• Conferences – posters, presentations• Committees and societies• Academic awards & funding success• Professional courses (Vitae, sponsors)• Publications – research articles

Sources of Support

• Supervisor(s) and tutors (Graduate School)• Postgraduate Student Development

Programme• Careers Advisers and information staff• Professional bodies and networks• Graduate Connections• Employers/Sponsor• Your own network - other students

The Good News

The Good News

The Good News

Resources

• Researchers’ Handbook• Professional bodies • Research Councils• Careers Service www.careers.ncl.ac.uk• Prospects www.prospects.ac.uk• Vitae (UK Grad) www.vitae.ac.uk

Careers Service

Level 1 Kings Gate

No appointment required – just call in! Advice & Guidance available

Monday to Friday 11am – 4.30pmOpen from 10am term-time and vacation

www.careers.ncl.ac.uk