Findings from Research/
Evaluation
PDP through ePortfolios: Engaging Students to Enhance
their Learning and Employability
Susan West- [email protected].
Buckinghamshire New University
www. bucks.ac.uk
The Aim
The main aim of this paper is to present the findings of a 2-year exploratory study under the
guidance of the Centre for Recording Achievement on the development of personal and
professional development planning (PPDP) policies and processes for Bucks students and identify
factors that could support the further enhancement of Institutional PPDP practice
The study draws upon an audit of existing practice and the experience of 3 cases collected within
Bucks over the 2 years and includes:
how some course and programme teams have embedded PPDP in the curriculum
how electronic and digital portfolios have been used to document students’ personal and
professional planning based on their reflections and learning
the challenges in getting students to engage with PPDP
the different tools available for the different purposes of PPDP
tried and tested practices for integrating PPDP policies and processes in the curriculum
Drivers
There are three important drivers for this initiative; first, the Bucks Student Union student
experience reports indicate that PPDP has not been a priority in the majority of the programmes.
Although the NSS 2010-2012 scores for personal development have been reasonable fluctuating
between 74% and 78% satisfaction, it was highlighted that students need a clear understanding of
the PDP purpose and process. Secondly, the UK government requires all HEIs to have developed
mechanisms for the integration of PDP by 2006 (JISC 2007) and that all their students be offered
the opportunity to engage in reflection, recording and planning, with elements of PDP being defined
as: a structured and supported process undertaken by an individual to reflect upon their own
THE CENTRE FOR RECORDING ACHIEVEMENT 104 -108 WALLGATE, WIGAN, WN3 4AB |
55