Personal Development Plans

Why have a personal development plan?  

Does it really help you?

Personal development planning or PDP means creating opportunities to think through, in a structured way, questions such as:

• What do I really want to achieve from life?
• What kind of person do I want to be?
• Am I clear about my personal goals and ambitions?
• Am I making the right decisions to get me where I really want to be?
• Am I in charge of my life and my studies - or am I just hoping it all will work out somehow? 

It has been recognised that students need structured opportunities to think about, and plan towards their future. The exact content really depends on you. How much of your time do you want to give now to planning your future?

Personal development planning is the process of creating an action plan based on awareness, values, reflection, goal-setting and planning for personal development within the context of a career, education, relationship or for self-improvement.

The PDP (personal development plan), also called an IDP (individual development plan) or PEP (personal enterprise plan), usually includes a statement of one's aspirations, strengths or competencies, education and training, and stages or steps to indicate how the plan is to be realized. 

Personal development plans may also include a statement of one's career and lifestyle priorities, career positioning, analysis of opportunities and risks, and alternative plans (Plan B),and a curriculum vitae.