Personal and Career Development in Higher Education

It is now widely recognised that graduates face diverse and competitive selection procedures, and future careers of continuous learning. Indviduals need to develop employability and career management skills in order to thrive in a global knowledge economy.Personal Development Planning is a method of recording achievements, identifying strengths and areas for improvement, reflecting on progress and setting clear goals and action plans for the future.Engaging students in personal and career development experiences, using appropriate methods and resources, can result in powerful insights that translate into enhanced skills and attributes useful in all areas of life. The central focus of PDP is on developing students towards graduate level employability and career management outcomes.This book shows how to integrate personal development activities into teaching in higher education. By embedding activities into the curriculum, students are encouraged to engage with the PDP process to help them: Gain a better understanding of what and how they are learning Improve study skills Gain a clear idea strengths and areas for development Develop an ability to plan and review all areas of academic, personal and professional development Improve ability to explain and discuss skills and abilities with prospective employers, with the evidence to support your claims Become a more effective, independent and confident self-directed learner Develop a positive attitude to learning throughout life Personal Development Planning will help all staff and educational development professionals, teachers in HE, and advisers and support staff in careers services enable students to build up a personal development record to improve their ability to relate their learning and achievements to employers' interests and needs and, ultimately, gain employment.Kumar, Arti is the author of 'Personal and Career Development in Higher Education', published 2008 under ISBN 9780415423601 and ISBN 0415423600.