ePortfolio and Personal Development Planning

Richy HetheringtonDevelopment Co-ordinator

Simon CotterillSenior Research Associate

Today’s session • 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

National Changes

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

Stats from HESA & Vitae

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

20000 UK doctoral Graduates students

HEI full timeAcademic staff

1999/2000 113,790 2009/2010 118,120

PhDs after 6 months 26% stay in HE research

by 3 years this is 19%, 3.5% get a tenure

0.45% make professor

HEI full timeAcademic staff

1999/2000 113,790 2009/2010 118,120

PhDs after 6 months 26% stay in HE research

by 3 years this is 19%, 3.5% get a tenure

0.45% make professor

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000 UK doctoral Graduates students

HEI full timeAcademic staff

1999/2000 113,790 2009/2010 118,120

PhDs after 6 months 26% stay in HE re-

search by 3 years this is 19%,

3.5% get a tenure0.45% make professor

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

Researcher Development Framework

www.vitae.ac.uk (UK Grad)

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

Programme BookletMostly accurate but is subject to change

Webspace Wed 20th March (not Friday 22nd March)

MBTI 9th January Alnwick Room, King’s Road Centre11th March Ridley 2 room 1.588th May HASS Training Suite

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/internal/module-catalogue/

Inside the booklet

Workshop Details

Graduate School Websitewww.ncl.ac.uk/fms

Booking systemAppropriate staffing

Monitoring

Evaluation

Accommodate Changes

Additions

Booking Page

Electronic Resources

Electronic Materials

Or Audio, PowerPoint slides, combined, maybe more

Varied Development opportunities• Research Seminars• Faculty taught course modules• Other graduate schools (SAgE and HaSS)

development programmes• Library, ISS, Writing Centre• Postgraduate Conference• Biotechnology YES• Vitae (UK Grad)

Events Calendar

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 !”

Postgraduate Training Programme-Workshop Booking System (FMS)

Via: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/fms/postgrad/Feeds attendance records into ePortfolio

• Secure access from a range of locations• Sharable / facilitate interaction• Transportable (take the data with you when you leave)• Multi-purpose eg. formative & summative = reduced

duplication

• Highly customisable• Multiple structures / views• Easier cross-referencing• Reduced admin• Not left on the bus !

Portfolios: why do it online ?

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

https://portfolio.ncl.ac.uk/ - Self Assessment/PDP

Have a look at section F - Networking and Team-working• Working with others• Understanding teams• Giving and receiving feedback

Assess your current skill level and record what you might do to develop further.

If you have scored ‘recognised’ for each skill, you should list evidence of what you do/have done to achieve this level of competence.

Workshop Task #2

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

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