PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS

The following section will give you guidance on the Personal Development Plan, what it is and how you can utilise it in support of your educational aspirations.

3 key questions to ask yourself……

1. What is a Personal Development Plan(PDP)?
2. Why Should I have one?
3. How can I write one to reflect my own aspirations?

The answers are straightforward……

1. What is a Personal Development Plan(PDP)?

A PDP is just another name for a plan of action, only this one refers specifically to your aspirations regarding personal development. We make plans every day, but do not always write them down; a PDP allows you to set your own personal targets and find the best way to achieve them.

2. Why Should I have one?

An action plan will help you to visualise what you are doing and keep track of your achievements. To be totally effective, it must be a fluid document that is reviewed at regular intervals to ensure that it is always accurate, relevant and realistic. Furthermore, certain courses may be eligible for financial assistance, such as the SLC and ELC. In order to qualify for these allowances, you will have to prove your commitment to your studies. You must have a PDP in order to claim the ELC, in accordance with the ELC DCI. Remember, the PDP is your personal document, but with your permission it is recommended that a copy be held in your Personal Educational Folder, the F7269. Access to this will be restricted to the Learning Centre Staff only.

3. How can I write one to reflect my own aspirations?

You now have 2 options. Some of you may feel confident enough to go straight ahead and fill in a PDP, if this applies to you, go to page 2-A-1, consider the example and then fill in the template on page 2-A-3. Please note that the design used for the template is only a suggested