Professional Development Planning Dr Emer Cunningham Graduate Studies Office University College Dublin IRCSET-INSPIRE Fellows Event 4rd September 2009

UCD Graduate Studies Office UCD Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Training

UCD Oifig an Léinn Dochtúireachta

Professional Development Planning Purpose: to be proactive in planning your career

UCD Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Training

IRCSET - Individual Development Plan What is it?

• A Planning tool that helps you define both your professional development needs and career objectivesThis is separate from research-specific planning • A Framework that facilitates communication between researchers and their mentors by giving the discussion a structure

UCD Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Training

IRCSET - Individual Development Plan Why use Personal Development Plan? • Helps you identify short term and long term goals and development of a road map on how to achieve them •

Builds into a record of skills developed over the course of study.

• Build awareness of the skills you have and the those you will need to have for your future career as independent professional.

UCD Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Training

IRCSET Individual Development Plan What does it look like? STEP 1 Skills Self Assessment- strengths, weaknesses in your skills (scale 1-5). This is carried out by you and your mentor independently STEP 2 Career Suitability Assessment- your career values and interests STEP 3 Write your Development Plan stating career goals

STEP 4 Implement IDP in consultation with your mentor and submit to IRCSET Repeat annually UCD Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Training

The UCD Experience UCD Structured PhD • Research and Professional Development Plan • Doctoral Studies Panel • Transferable Skills training • Credits and Modules • Progression

UCD Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Training

UCD Research and Professional Development Plan Background • Based on a PDP developed in University College London • Piloted in UCD with a group of 100 PhD students Sept ’06 • Monitored and reviewed 2006-2007 • Amended version in place for all UCD PhD students from Sept ‘07

UCD Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Training

UCD Research and Professional Development Plan Structure of RPDP 1) Research Plan 2) Professional Development Plan 3) Meetings Records

UCD Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Training

UCD Research and Professional Development Plan Doctoral Studies Panel •Monitors progress of student with RPDP •Offers advice & guidance •RPDP can be used to to advise on transfer & final submission

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School Office •Holds RPDP records •Sends reminders & receipt for submission

PhD Student •Owns RPDP •Completes RPDP in consultation with Supervisor & DSP •Responsible for timely submission

UCD Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Training

PhD Supervisor •Supports student in the development & completion •Responsible for sign-off of relevant sections •Reviews RPDP to advise on transfer and final submission

Survey of 2006 PhD Students and their supervisors Methods of gathering information 1) Online survey

2) Discussion sessions with Supervisors

3) Coffee mornings with students

UCD Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Training

Results of Online Survey of students and supervisors – 66% of all students & supervisors believed that the RPDP will help with process of completing a PhD. – 80% of students & supervisors believed the Research Plan is an important tool to aid the students research. – 92% of supervisors believed that it is beneficial for students to use the RPDP to develop their professional skills.

UCD Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Training

Positives of RPDP (Feedback from Supervisors) • Significant buy-in from students • RPDP considered to contain relevant questions • Keeps student focused • Regular formalised meetings were viewed as essential ensuring the researcher is prepared for and have thought about the important issues for discussion • Meetings generate momentum • Framework was considered useful for supervisors to provide quality supervision UCD Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Training

Weaknesses of RPDP (Feedback from Supervisors) • Lack of communication with Supervisors regarding the RPDP • Original version in 2006 was considered too long and there was too much jargon • Original version in 2006 Perceived as too formal and over complicated • No formal acknowledgement of receipt of documentation by the Graduate School • Professional Development Plan needs to take into account the variety of ages/experiences of students UCD Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Training

Recommendations

• Imperative to involve your mentor in Professional Development Planning from the outset • Engage with the IDP at the earliest opportunity to gain the most benefit • Don’t be too concerned if some questions/skill sets/ career values are not directly related to you, just record this and continue on.

UCD Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Training

Towards a Framework for Researcher Careers October 2008

UCD Office of the Dean of Doctoral Studies & Postdoctoral Training

Towards a Framework for Researcher Careers “As part of a continuous professional development process, researchers at all levels of their careers should … be encouraged to manage their own careers…”

“Within the initial postdoctoral researcher phase, there should be an emphasis on ensuring that the expectations of postdoctoral researchers are realistic and that information and support is provided in order to ensure that they are aware of the opportunities to progress within the HEI, enterprise and public sector research systems”

UCD Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Training

Towards a Framework for Researcher Careers Clearly defined levels within the researcher career path 1. Postdoctoral Researcher 2. Research Fellow 3. Senior Research Fellow

UCD Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Training

Some of the Skills to be part of the Development Framework under consideration in UCD • Research Management • Research Leadership • Knowledge of Discipline • Teaching, lecturing , mentoring • Transferable Skills

UCD Office of the Dean of Graduate Studies & Postdoctoral Training