Information for Students

The information provided here is intended to give you an overview of the SGDP. Your Department should provide you with information about the procedures, activities and support for the SGDP that you are to follow.

Some Key Information

• The SGDP is our local version of an activity that is commonly known as PDP (Personal Development Planning). The purpose is to provide you with a stuctured and supported process for reflecting on your own learning, performance and achievement. This is undertaken so that you undertand your strengths and weaknesses and can identify what else you need to do, or to learn, in order to achieve your goals.
  
• We have customised this activity by identifying the skills that you should be able to gain through studying here - The Sheffield Graduate - and the opportunities that are available to help you achieve them.
  
• Your Department has tailored this further, in order to make sure that it fits with the context of the subject(s) you have chosen to study.

As a student, SGDP is intended to enable you to get the most out of your academic programme and the additional (extra curricular) opportunities available. Looking further ahead, developing the habit of reflecting on your progress and taking responsibility for your development should also stand you in good stead when you graduate from the University. For example, if you are aimimg to become a member of a professional body, participation in Continuing Professional Development is a requirement and is very dependent on your individual motivation. In many other fields of work, employers have structured approaches to appraisal and development, which will usually require you to undertake self reflection and development needs analysis. Similarly, if you want to go on to higher level study you will be expected to take responsibility for developing your academic and transferable skills to the appropriate level.

The downloads provide examples of the kinds of materials that can be used to support personal development planning.

• A self assessed skills audit - identify what you can already do and the gaps or weaknesses to work on.
• Discussion points to help review your progress whilst you are a student at Sheffield.