Module 1 – Professional development planning: your roadmap for growth
Professional Development Planning (PDP) is all about taking charge of your career journey. Helping you to set goals, recognise achievements, and prioritise what matters most in your professional growth.
In this module:
- Explore what PDP means for you: see how PDP can support your growth, and how it fits into your career planning.
- Discover the Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF): discover a practical tool to guide your development.
Why Professional development planning?
Navigating your research career can be overwhelming with so many opportunities and conflicting messages on what to prioritise.
PDP can help you make informed choices about your professional aspirations and to take control of your development through:
- identifying career aspirations and goals
- recognising and recording achievements
- prioritising and planning professional development activities
PDP is:
- Structured: there’s a clear purpose, and it is designed to achieve results
- Supported: you’ll be guided by professionals who promote and support learning
- Is about whole-person development: it’s not just about work; it’s about you as an individual
How can PDP help you?
There are multiple benefits to engaging in PDP as a researcher. Here are a few of them:
- Build confidence in your path and create a clear vision for yourself
- Feel more grounded and motivated
- Develop an understanding of what drives and motivates you and enhance skills that align with this
- Recognise and celebrate your progress
- Set and achieve meaningful goals
- Action your learning in focused and efficient ways
- Develop valuable self-reflection skills
- Create new opportunities for yourself and your career
- Support you to navigate unexpected challenges
- Strengthen your sense of purpose by helping you see the impact of your work both personally and more widely
Activity: Discover what your profession or discipline says about PDP
Some disciplines and professionals have specific guidance on professional development planning or continuing professional development (CPD).
Head to the website of a professional body in your field and see what they say about PDP or CPD.
Here are some links to common professional areas:
- Biochemists
- Health professionals
- Mechanical engineers
- Social workers
- Psychologists
- Medicine
- Historians
Questions to consider:
- Is PDP (or CPD) a requirement in your field?
- What resources or guidance is provided?
Getting to know the Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF)
The Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF) is a framework that describes the knowledge, behaviours and attributes of successful researchers. It can be used as a tool to help with professional development planning at all career stages.
This short video introduces the framework. You can also download a version of the Vitae RDF.
Module summary
PDP is an approach that can help you to take control of your own development through:
- identifying career aspirations and goals
- recognising and recording achievements
- prioritising and planning professional development activities
Your own discipline or professional area may have specific guidance on PDP – it is worth making sure you are aware of this.
The Vitae Researcher Development Framework can be a useful tool to help structure your PDP.
Now move on to the next module and begin to analyse your experience, skills and expertise.