Steps

1. Introduction
Give a short explanation of:

• The form and purpose of a professional development plan
• The idea of a mentor to support personal development
• Invite students to discuss the difference in roles between mentors and supervisors

2. Develop individual professional development plans
Working individually with the template, students note their long-term ambitions and the knowledge and experience they will need to get there
Those who developed PDPs earlier modify them:

• What has changed, for example in your ambitions for the future?
• What additional skills and experience do you now realise that you will need?
• What has proved, with time and experience, to be unnecessary?

In pairs, students describe their ambitions to each other, outlining what they need in order to achieve them
In plenary, students take turns to describe their discussion partner’s plan