Progress Files
Currently, you will only be asked to keep a Progress File if you are a full time student. As yet there is no requirement for part-time students to keep Progress Files. However, as part of your personal development you may choose to follow some of the suggestions below.
What is a Progress File?
Progress Files are records of learning and achievement while you are a student. They have two components:
The transcript - a record of your progress through a course of study, including the modules you have taken with a breakdown of marks and overall grade. This record is generated automatically at the end of each year by the student administration system called SITS.
Personal Development Record - a written record of meetings with your personal development tutor and/or learning adviser. This can help you plan and set goals while you are a student and can also provide a resource to produce personal statements, CVs and evidence required by prospective employers. Taking part in these meetings and keeping records is called the Personal Development Planning (PDP) process.
How is Personal Development Planning (PDP) useful to me?
The PDP process gives you an opportunity to practice the self-management skills that you will need while you are a student and when you begin full-time employment. If you use it to work out what you want and how you are going to get it, you will find that it is an extremely helpful tool. It will help you to:
- take responsibility for your own learning
- see how your learning relates to a wider context
- improve your general skills for study and career management
- provide evidence of your achievements.
In a competitive job market, being able to identify and use the skills you learn during PDP will become invaluable.
Do all students keep a progress file?
The University introduced progress files to all new, full-time students starting courses in September 2003. Schools and programme teams may operate progress files exactly the same way, or they may choose to adapt a common model to suit their particular needs and the needs of their students. Therefore, if you have friends studying on other courses, you may find that the system they are using is different to yours.
How much time will it involve?
Progress Files need not take up much of your time but if you want them to work for you it is important that you get involved with the process. Typically you will need to meet your personal development tutor or academic adviser about 3 times a year to discuss your progress, plan the next stage and set some targets.
Are progress files compulsory?
The Higher Education Funding Council for England & Wales are convinced that Progress Files will be extremely beneficial to students. Therefore, they have told all universities in England and Wales that they must provide all students with the opportunity to engage with them by the year 2005. So, while Progress Files may not be a compulsory component of your course, you are strongly recommended to attend meetings with your tutor and maintain records of these meetings in your progress file.
What do I have to do?
This really depends how progress files have been set up for your course of study. However, most students will be asked to complete the forms below at the following times during the academic year:
| what? | Skills Self-Evaluation Form - you use this form to make a self-assessment of your key skills, identifying those which you think you need to develop while you are at university. |
| when? | Most likely during induction week or at the point when you are introduced to progress files. In either case you will need to complete this before your first meeting with your tutor or academic adviser, which is likely to be early during the first semester. |
| what? | Student Entry Profile and Record of First Meeting - part A of this form is used to record information about your educational and/or work background and any aspirations you have as a result of the Skills Self-Evaluation Form. The second part of the form is intended to record the first steps in your personal development planning (PDP). |
| when? | Most likely during induction week or at the point when you are introduced to progress files. In either case you will need to complete this before your first meeting with your tutor or academic adviser, as the information you give will form the basis of your discussion. You will complete the part B of the form after your meeting when you have set some goals. |
| what? | Record of Personal Development Meetings (RPDM) - you use this form to detail your progress towards your goals, reflecting on any changes you might have made and the reasons why. You will complete part A of the form before your meeting and part B during or after your meeting. |
| when? | Each time you meet with your tutor following your first meeting. |
Evidence
Throughout the PDP process you are asked to record or provide evidence of your achievements. Remember these achievements can be in relation to your academic, work/career or personal life and you are encouraged to think of evidence in broad terms. Here are some examples of things you could include (examples could belong in more than one category):
Academic
- tutor feedback on written or other assessed work
- notes of oral presentations & audio visual resources
- learning journals, timetables, assignments, reports,
- effective notes from lectures, books or journals
- revision plans, research strategies
- contributions to online discussions, links to personal websites
- your contribution to a group project
Remember, the Student Record System (SITS) will automatically provide a transcript of your module choices and marks at the end of each academic year.
Work/career
- coping with an awkward situation
- coaching, mentoring or encouraging others
- any pay rises, promotion or increased responsibility
- meeting deadlines
- implementing new methods, systems, ideas
- organising the staff night out
- influencing change.
Personal
- managing a household budget
- your contribution to a voluntary or charitable group
- caring for children, older relatives, people with disabilities
- sporting achievements, training schedules, coaching others
- coping in a crisis
- planning and organising a holiday
- hobbies you pursue, things you've made, organised or done.
Where do I keep all these documents and records?
If you want your Progress File to be up to date and useful, you will need to find a system for storing all your documents, evidence and records of meetings. Some of you may want to keep electronic records and store them on a personal computer or floppy disk. Others may prefer to print documents and keep paper copies of everything stored in a ring binder or document wallet.
Skills Development Resource
There is a link from the Progress Files area in the My Sunderland Portal to a Skills Development Resource. You can use this to help you develop those skills which you feel you need but which you have not yet acquired. This area has been set up to provide you with access to :
- details of services or staff supporting on-campus development of skills
- links to courses and tutorials in print, online and WebCT
- external links
- details of relevant campus activities that you can get involved with
- suggestions of part-time jobs and off-campus activities that can contribute to skills development.
