PDP Cycle Diagram: Based on Kolb's Learning Cycle

Getting Help with PDP For most students, the first people to turn to for help with PDP will be friends or family. If you need extra help with PDP, the first port of call should be your Tutor, or Personal Tutor. Other College staff may be able to offer help and advice, including your College Chaplain, DoS, or Careers Advisor. There are many other possible sources of support and advice available to you in Cambridge. Check out the Student PDP Guide for a full listing.

How to Do PDP The diagram on the left presents a visual representation of the basic elements of Personal Development Planning. PDP is a process designed to help you to identify your goals, reflect on them, and work towards achieving them. It works best when you start to develop a "feedback loop" between PDP and your studies and everyday life; hence PDP is represented as a cycle. Steps Towards PDP Think about where you are now, and where you want to be (tomorrow? next week? next year?) Identify a personal objective or goal; something you want to work towards (a 2.1? a holiday? a job? forming a band? playing University sports? writing a play?) List the skills you will need to achieve your objective. (Ask yourself: What are my skills? What are my achievements?). Think about any possible gaps in your skills. You may find it helpful to use the PDP tools available in the Resources section and on the Transferable Skills website, e.g. the Skills Audit Form. Do a reality check. Talk about it with friends and family. Ask for feedback. Start to make your objective more concrete. Decide on your next steps. Reflect on your progress. Check that you're moving towards your objective. Have there been major changes in your life or ambitions? Do you need to set yourself a new goal? Congratulate yourself on how far you've come!

What is Expected of Me? Personal Development Planning, or PDP, is not assessed by the Colleges or the University as a formal part of your degree. How much you do, and how often, is up to you. As a minimum, you should expect to discuss PDP with your Personal Tutor or Tutor, at least once a year. You will have received this information just before the start of the academic year. The first time you meet with your Tutor, usually during Michaelmas Term, take along a copy of the PD Plan and make sure that you understand how the system works. Visit the PDP section of the Transferable Skills Website for more information. As you begin to build up your portfolio and PD Plans in subsequent terms, be prepared to discuss them with your Tutor. Talk about your plans and goals for the year: academic aims, certainly, but also your personal, career, and life goals. It is a good idea to revise or update your PD Plan after these meetings, or on a regular basis such as once per Term.