EXAMPLE OF A COMPLETED PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (PDP)

(for use in conjunction with the Researcher Development Framework)

The following is an example of how the Personal Development Plan (PDP) could be completed. You may not necessarily complete all sections in this document. Where you do not complete a sub-section, please leave it blank. The PDP is a ‘living’ document. You complete your planned skills development at the beginning of each year and then update with training courses/practical experience throughout the year as you obtain them. You need to select up to 20 descriptors each year (you need to ensure that you have covered all 63 descriptors by the end of your Doctorate). You should first complete the Research Skills Training Needs Analysis, to help determine which areas you need to focus on. You also need to refer to the RDF domains document, which provides further information about the skills in each section. This example is for a Doctorate candidate at the beginning of his/her research. Your completed PDP for the previous year needs to be submitted prior to your annual monitoring meeting that focusses on your progress. Following your annual monitoring meeting, you need to update your Research Skills Training Needs Analysis and start a new PDP for the coming year as soon as possible. Name: Student ID: Faculty: Year of Study: You should complete this log and submit it as part of your annual progress review. It is expected that you will have recorded training and / or practical experience in each of the four areas by the time you reach the final year of year PhD. Please see the Researcher Development Framework for the full list of skills under each domain.

RDF Domain Training / professional development activity

Domain A: Knowledge and intellectual abilities This domain relates to the knowledge and intellectual abilities needed to be able to carry out excellent research.

Key skills development priorities up to June 2012.

1. Knowledge base (Subdomain A1) – Subject knowledge. 2. Knowledge (Subdomain A1) - Research methods: theoretical knowledge. 3. Knowledge base (Subdomain A1)- Information Literacy & Management. 4. Knowledge base (Subdomain A1)- Languages. 5. Cognitive abilities (Subdomain A2) – Critical thinking. 6. Creativity (Subdomain A3) - Intellectual risk.

Please list any training courses undertaken in this area 1. Subject knowledge Attended RDCS’s cross-faculty research training programme, January – April 2012, sessions in Introduction to methodology and philosophy of social science research and Reading Research Critically and attended the National Social Care Annual Conference, January 2012. 2. Research Methods: theoretical knowledge RDCS’ Cross-faculty research training programme, January- April 2012, attended sessions in Introduction to methodology and philosophy of social science research, Reading Research Critically and Research Design. Also completed Epigeum course Research Methods in the Social Sciences. 3. Information Literacy & Management Introduction to Ref Works, November 2011. 4. Languages Booked a one-to-one session with librarian at Anglia Ruskin to look at electronic literature searching.

Attended November 2011. 5.Critical thinking As mentioned above, attended cross-faculty research programme sessions in Reading Research Critically and Research Design. I also completed the Epigeum Literature review course. 6. Intellectual Risk N/A – this is not an area that I believe can be addressed via direct training. Please list any practical experience undertaken in this area and comment on how it has helped you develop specific skills in this domain I have improved my subject knowledge by carrying out my literature review. I presented my proposed research at a departmental workshop. In order to be able to deliver this 20-minute presentation, I needed to be able to demonstrate critical thinking, as I needed to evaluate and critique the existing literature and draw on key literature only. In terms of intellectual risk, I feel I have demonstrated that I am open to new sources of ideas by attending a range of the cross-faculty research training sessions, where different theories and paradigms have been explored.

Domain B: Personal effectiveness This domain contains the personal qualities, career and self-management skills required to take ownership for and engage in professional development.

Key skills development priorities up to June 2012. 7. Personal qualities (Subdomain B1) – Enthusiasm. 8. Personal qualities (Subdomain B1) – Integrity. 9. Self-management (Subdomain B2) - Preparation and prioritisation. 10. Self-management (Subdomain B2) –Commitment to research. 11. Self-management (Subdomain B2) - Time management. Please list any training undertaken in this area 7. Enthusiasm Not something that can be directly learnt from training, but I believe the range of training sessions that I have chosen to engage in demonstrates my enthusiasm. 8. Integrity Introduction to Research Ethics & Integrity’ session, January 2012. Epigeum Ethics 1 – Good Research Practice and Ethics 2 – Working with Human Subjects, October 2011. 9. Preparation and prioritisation RDCS’ cross-faculty research training programme, January- April 2012, attended sessions in Quantitative methods 1-3, which helped keep me up-to-date with current developments. 10. Commitment to research RDCS’ Project Management Skills for Research, February 2012. 11. Time management RDCS’ Project Management Skills for Research, February 2012 and faculty forum, March 2012, during which how to manage time effectively was discussed. Please list any practical experience undertaken in this area and comment on how it has helped you develop specific skills in this domain. N/A

Domain C: Research governance and organisation This domain relates to the knowledge of the standards, requirements and professional conduct that are needed for the effective management of research.

Key skills development priorities up to June 2012. 12. Professional conduct (Subdomain C1)- Health and safety. 13. Professional conduct (Subdomain C1) – Ethics, principles and sustainability. 14. Professional conduct (Subdomain C1 ) - IPR and copyright. 15. Professional conduct (Subdomain C1-) --Respect and confidentiality. 16. Research Management (Subdomain C2) – Project planning and delivery. 17. Research Management (Subdomain C2) – Risk Management. Please list any training undertaken in this area 12. Health and safety Attended Human Resource Services course at Anglia Ruskin University, Health & Safety Awareness, November 2011. Covered health and safety as part of my induction session for my new role in the NHS. This is applicable given that my research will be in the NHS. 13. Ethics, principles & sustainability Attended RDCS’ Introduction to Research Ethics & Integrity, January 2012. Health, Social Care and Education faculty ethics session, March 2012. Completed Epigeum Ethics 1 – Good Research Practice and Ethics 2 – Working with Human Subjects, October 2011. 14. IPR and copyright Completed IPR Module in Epigeum, October 2011. 15. Respect and confidentiality I have recently started work in the NHS and this was covered in the induction programme, October 2011. 16. Project planning and delivery As mentioned previously, I participated in RDCS’s Project Management Skills in Research course, February 2012.

17. Risk Management As above, RDCS’s Project Management Skills in Research Course. This covered risk assessment for research projects. Please list any practical experience undertaken in this area and comment on how it has helped you develop specific skills in this domain Putting together my research ethics application has helped me to expand on my skills relating to ethics, principles & sustainability and also respect and confidentiality, given that I needed to consider confidentiality of participants. My role as an HR Advisor in the NHS has helped me appreciate the requirement for respect, confidentiality and corporate social responsibility (as have my previous HR, non-NHS positions). With regards to project planning and delivery, I am responsible for planning and delivering a number of projects in my current role and these skills are transferable to managing my Doctorate.

Domain D: Engagement, influence and impact This domain relates to the knowledge, understanding and skills needed to engage with, influence and impact on the academic, social, cultural, economic and broader context.

Key skills development priorities up to month/year (insert) 18. Working with others (Subdomain D1) - Team Working. 19. Engagement and Impact (Subdomain D3) – Teaching. Please list any training undertaken in this area 18. No training events for Team Working (please see practical experience obtained). 19. Teaching (the social and ethical implications of research, and public attitudes to these issues). Introduction to Research Ethics & Integrity session, January 2012 Epigeum Ethics 1 – Good Research Practice and Ethics 2 – Working with Human Subjects, October 2011. Please list any practical experience undertaken in this area and comment on how it has helped you develop specific skills in this domain With regards to team working, I have been a member of a team throughout my career to date and am

now leading a small team within the NHS.

Having completed your PDP above: critically reflecting on your research experience to date – which of your skills need further enhancement to achieve a successful academic outcome and enhance your employment prospects? I still need to improve in knowledge of my subject area, but I am still at a relatively early stage in my Doctorate and this is something that will develop as I progress. In terms of intellectual risk, this is also an area that I anticipate will evolve over time. What skills do you think you have best achieved or improved? My knowledge of research ethics has approved substantially as a result of attending the on-line and face-to-face ethics sessions. How to project manage a Doctorate (attended the project management session). First Supervisor (Signature)…………………………………………………………Date reviewed with First Supervisor……………………………….. Research degree candidate’s signature………………………………………….. 8 August 2012 V1.0