Interesting Carina,

Worth sending this to the list I think and I'd very much recommend the work
being done at Portsmouth!  But I can't help responding to one point in the
message about: 

'Perhaps a stronger emphasis on professionalism like this, rather than
the more limiting personal development...'

Because I see professional development as only an element of personal
development!  For example, with the nurses, they can work on their
professional development in terms of meeting the requirements for
qualification and safe practice - but their personal development is the much
wider context of improving their own learning, raising their awareness of
themselves, their abilities and their self-efficacy, considering the generic
'soft skills' they are developing, etc. All these apply well beyond the remit
of professional nursing, etc.  Professional development prepares someone for
a profession, personal development helps the person shape their world around
them.... discuss!

cheers
John

Dr John Peters
Learning and Teaching Centre
University of Worcester
01905 855506

-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion and support list for PDP UK Network members
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carina Buckley
Sent: 20 February 2007 14:34
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: PDP in Postgrad distance learning healthcare programme

Dear Angela,

I work for a CETL at the University of Portsmouth called Foundation
Direct, which provides PDP to Foundation degree students in a way that
directly addresses and is relevant to their needs and their aims. Our
brief is to develop best practice in professional development, and we
deliver an assessed 20 credit unit that runs through the entire length
of the degree and which focusses on the three domains of learning of
self, theory and practice. In this way it is entirely integrated into
the degree, and they actively learn the skills of reflection, critical
thinking etc as well as having the chance to use and develop them.

Foundation degree students are all in full time work and may have been
out of the education system for years - decades, in some cases - and so
they have a completely different profile to 'traditional entry' students
and thus different needs. We are here to provide support and assistance
to these students, but our team's expertise in professionalism and
reflection is applicable to any degree and any student. Our aim is to
help them develop communities of practice and bring together their
knowledge from the workplace and the university and so become more
independent, confident and ultimately successful professionals. The PDU
has been running for 18 months now and seems to be having the impact we
were hoping for.

Perhaps a stronger emphasis on professionalism like this, rather than
the more limiting personal development, would surely be more appropriate
and relevant (and therefore more engaging) for the types of students you
are working with? I would be very happy to talk to you about this
further if you were interested.

With best wishes,

Carina Buckley