Personal Tutors and Personal Development Planning (PDP)

The PDP Policy for the University states that "Personal tutoring which facilitates student PDP is integral to the success of the PDP system at Aberystwyth University".  This can be combined with elements of PDP embedded in the curriculum (in modules/pathways) and the use of PDP e-learning resources such as the PDP Portfolio which is located in AberLearn Blackboard. The balance between these elements may vary according to departmental/subject discipline and level of study.

Due to the role that personal tutors play in the provision of academic, pastoral and professional support to students, PDP and personal tutoring can be closely linked activities that complement each other (although in some instances other individuals, for example academic tutors, may fulfil this role).

Full University PDP policy (PDF)

Background

It is a national requirement for all universities to provide a tool that enables undergraduate students to create and store records relating to their Personal Development Planning (PDP). Aberystwyth’s PDP Portfolio is designed to complement, not replace, the face-to-face support offered by personal tutors.

PDP is a structured process of self appraisal, reflection, planning and record keeping which has these main purposes:

  • To help students to improve their quality of learning and their academic performance
  • To support processes of personal development including skills needed for a future career
  • To equip students with tools which enable forward planning to achieve their goals

Students have a responsibility to participate in PDP and for keeping their PDP Portfolio up-to-date. 

PDP is about life, work and study. If it is done well, it supports our students in becoming the sort of well-rounded, forward-thinking, adaptable and capable adults with good career prospects that we wish Aberystwyth graduates to be.

How does PDP work at Aberystwyth?

The PDP Portfolio is located in the AberLearn Blackboard. There is one for each year of undergraduate study. The web page for students is located at www.aber.ac.uk/careers/pdp and there is more information for staff at www.aber.ac.uk/careers/pdpfaqstaff.  The student page includes basic information on what PDP consists of, why it is useful, links to departmental web pages with deadlines for student participation and, most importantly, a guide showing how to access and download the relevant PDP Portfolio according to the undergraduate year of study. The staff page contains a series of FAQs specifically about PDP.

The PDP Policy for the university states that “all programmes should provide written guidelines for undergraduate students on the purpose and content of PDP and the rationale for the chosen mode of delivery as well as the requirement to undertake it throughout their course of study.”

It is important to familiarise yourself with the information for students about PDP. 

What should students do?

There is one PDP Portfolio "template" available in the AberLearn Blackboard  for each year of undergraduate study.  Students in participating departments are required to download the relevant PDP Portfolio and engage with it according to their individual preferences.

Some students will inevitably engage with the reflective process more than others. It is important to remember that this is primarily a student resource, and unless it is being used as part of an assessment in a credit-bearing module, it is not appropriate to be too prescriptive about how it is used.

Each PDP Portfolio contains information about how to get started and includes a range of resources to facilitate student academic, career and personal development.

Student's can set up a viewing permission for their personal tutor to view their PDP Portfolio online.  This can be useful to help prepare both parties for meetings about the student’s progress.

What are the key points when advising undergraduate students about PDP?

Students will need to be made aware of the benefits of the PDP process to their personal, academic and professional development. Your department can access tailored workshops and lectures on this theme via pdpportfolio@aber.ac.uk or your departmental careers adviser. 

All students will need to be directed to the student PDP information website for full information and to access the Step by Step Guide to PDP. (See links section below.)

 Students may need to be reminded if you would like them to bring along hard copies of their records to tutorials/meetings.

What should be done in the case of technical difficulties?

Please report any technical problems with the PDP system immediately to Blackboard and E-learning Support – bbbstaff@aber.ac.uk and encourage your students to do the same. The system administrator will attend to these and respond as soon as possible.

So what is my role in this?

PDP is a student-led activity and according to the University Employability Statement and Strategy, it is a strategic aim that PDP will be fully utilised to encourage students to reflect on and monitor their learning and development. 

Experience indicates that unless PDP is embedded within an academic programme and credit given for doing it or it is shown to be valued and supported by academic staff, students will engage with PDP as they see fit. 

Undergraduate students should be informed about PDP when they arrive at Aberystwyth and support is available through the Careers Advisory Service for induction and other bespoke events linked to PDP. Seek help via pdpportfolio@aber.ac.uk and your departmental Careers Adviser.

The personal tutor can help tutees to get the most out of PDP in many ways, for example:

  • Explain to students the benefits of PDP
  • Offer to talk through sections of the PDP Portfolio in tutorials
  • Help students get used to the process of reflection by integrating reflective exercises into assessment on modules and throughout programmes
  • Help students to reflect effectively when completing PDP templates
  • Help students to plan effectively and in goal setting
  • Point students in the direction of appropriate activities, both academic and non-academic, which can help them to develop skills
  • Assist in the development of effective approaches to study
  • Suggest that tutees invite their personal tutor to review appropriate parts of their PDP Portfolio.  This can be done when the student sets up a sharing permission. For more information about this contact pdpportfolio@aber.ac.uk  

Further information and useful links

If you have any suggestions about how this toolkit can be improved please email ss-toolkit@aber.ac.uk