Senior Tutor Network

1. Senior Tutor Network Away Day 27th June 2007 Personal Development Goals

2. The Concept • To invite students to set and reflect on a “personal development goal” (PDG) with their personal tutor every semester. • PDGs may relate to any area of potential achievement that does not result in an assessment grade or academic award. • Teaching Committee has asked STN to pilot a PDGs scheme during 2007/08 “on a voluntary basis and in conjunction with the establishment of an award for skills development.” Taught PGs should be included if at all possible.

3. “We do not want another E-PAR”(Anon!) • What new systems are required? • None. (If tutees meetings & some record keeping are in place). • Do academic staff have to do very much? • No. (They have to discuss PDGs with tutees twice a year). • Can the PDG initiative fail?! • Yes, of course! But it can’t be a disaster . . . • What is the key to success? • Promotion. (To students and personal tutors as broadly as possible, and hopefully more broadly than at the school level).

4. The Genesis of the PDG Initiative . . . • Student Union campaigning, especially linked to enhancing employability. • The B2B consultants finding that the 75% of students "without problems" do not see the relevance of their personal tutor. • With PAS/SSD apparently widely accepted as involving “improvement" and "development", to make this mean anything, and to promote cultural change, some sort of deliverable action / initiative is required . . . ?

5. Potential Outcomes / Benefits • An improvement in the relationship between students and academics. • A signalling of the relevance of, and renewed interest in, personal tutoring. • A heightened emphasis on student employability. • Students encouraged to maximize their University of Nottingham experience. • (An increased consistency in personal tutoring provision across the University).

6. What may being in the pilot mean? • Personal tutor training (SEDU can help). • Poster campaign in your School. • Distribution of student flyer. • Entry in student handbook. • Explaining PDGs to students during induction. • Possible input sessions to students from (eg) the Centre for Career Development, SEDU, the Student Union, etc . . . • Personal tutors invite students to set/reflect on goals in (existing) scheduled personal tutor meetings. Record via E-PAR, paper form, etc.

7. Why take part in the pilot . . . ? • Students in your School will hopefully benefit. • Provides a clear signal of an interest in improving the student experience (the NSS and the league tables are not going away…!). • Opportunity cost is small. The materials you need are already or will be prepared. • The Student Union is highly supportive, and can help promote if many schools take part. • Employability is a key 2007-2008 agenda. • Teaching Committee’s expectation is a University-wide PDG roll-out in 2008-2009.

8. The Pitch to Students • Personal Development Goals are an invitation from your personal tutor to help you set and reflect on challenges in order to: • Be more prepared to gain employment. • Not regret what you didn’t do at university.

9. Next Steps for Discussion • Why should schools exclude themselves from the 2007-2008 PDG pilot?! • How else may schools clearly signal the developmental role of their personal tutors? • What specific, practical help not currently in place do schools and their personal tutors need to assist them in making PDGs or other student development initiatives a success? • Do you have any specific ideas for promoting PDGs at a School or University level? • Possible PDG link to skills award . . . ?