Senior Tutor Network

Away Day 27th June 2007

Personal Development Goals

The Concept

• To invite students to set and reflect on a “personal development goal” (PDG) with their personal tutor every semester.

• PDGs may relate to any area of potential achievement that does not result in an assessment grade or academic award.

• Teaching Committee has asked STN to pilot a PDGs scheme during 2007/08 “on a voluntary basis and in conjunction with the establishment of an award for skills development.” Taught PGs should be included if at all possible.

“We do not want another E-PAR” (Anon!)

• What new systems are required?• None. (If tutees meetings & some record keeping are in place).

• Do academic staff have to do very much?• No. (They have to discuss PDGs with tutees twice a year).

• Can the PDG initiative fail?!• Yes, of course! But it can’t be a disaster . . .

• What is the key to success?• Promotion. (To students and personal tutors as broadly as

possible, and hopefully more broadly than at the school level).

The Genesis of the PDG Initiative . . .

• Student Union campaigning, especially linked to enhancing employability.

• The B2B consultants finding that the 75% of students "without problems" do not see the relevance of their personal tutor.

• With PAS/SSD apparently widely accepted as involving “improvement" and "development", to make this mean anything, and to promote cultural change, some sort of deliverable action / initiative is required . . . ?

Potential Outcomes / Benefits

• An improvement in the relationship between students and academics.

• A signalling of the relevance of, and renewed interest in, personal tutoring.

• A heightened emphasis on student employability.

• Students encouraged to maximize their University of Nottingham experience.

• (An increased consistency in personal tutoring provision across the University).

What may being in the pilot mean?

• Personal tutor training (SEDU can help).• Poster campaign in your School.• Distribution of student flyer.• Entry in student handbook.• Explaining PDGs to students during induction.• Possible input sessions to students from (eg)

the Centre for Career Development, SEDU, the Student Union, etc . . .

• Personal tutors invite students to set/reflect on goals in (existing) scheduled personal tutor meetings. Record via E-PAR, paper form, etc.

Why take part in the pilot . . . ?

• Students in your School will hopefully benefit.• Provides a clear signal of an interest in

improving the student experience (the NSS and the league tables are not going away…!).

• Opportunity cost is small. The materials you need are already or will be prepared.

• The Student Union is highly supportive, and can help promote if many schools take part.

• Employability is a key 2007-2008 agenda.• Teaching Committee’s expectation is a

University-wide PDG roll-out in 2008-2009.

The Pitch to Students

• Personal Development Goals are an invitation from your personal tutor to help you set and reflect on challenges in order to:

• Be more prepared to gain employment.

• Not regret what you didn’t do at university.

Next Steps for Discussion

• Why should schools exclude themselves from the 2007-2008 PDG pilot?!

• How else may schools clearly signal the developmental role of their personal tutors?

• What specific, practical help not currently in place do schools and their personal tutors need to assist them in making PDGs or other student development initiatives a success?

• Do you have any specific ideas for promoting PDGs at a School or University level?

• Possible PDG link to skills award . . . ?