• University of Exeter Business School
• Module

Managing Own Career Progression: Personal Development Planning

Module description

This module offers a series of activities aimed at developing the personal effectiveness, behaviours and career management practices of early career finance professionals. It seeks to pull together learning from across a variety of sources in support of proactively managing one’s own learning and development. The ability to produce a coherent and well-informed Personal Development Plan (PDP) is an essential part of doing well in both academic and professional practise. Using skills of reflection, apprentices will regularly pause to consider what information is available to them in order to shape their development and demonstrate progression.

This year long module is focused on ‘self-development’ and provides an important foundation upon which to develop the apprentices career in financial services. The emphasis is on the development of personal effectiveness and interpersonal excellence, both of which are an essential part of creating a positive impact within the workplace. Personal effectiveness includes managing own learning, the identification of personal development needs and taking responsibility for the achievement of learning objectives. Interpersonal excellence is focussed upon the communication skills necessary to play a significant role within teams, department, and the wider organisation. The personal development planning processes is determined at the start of the programme and regularly revisited throughout the year.

Module aims - intentions of the module

Through a series of activities and exercises, apprentices will identify the strengths, values and personality drivers that shape them, using that awareness to manage their own personal development planning. Through constructive feedback from both academic and workplace mentors, the apprentice will review their progress, adjusting and adapting as they apply career management skills.  This module culminates in the production of a portfolio that draws together and evidences personal and professional development.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Develop critical arguments both of self and of module-related theories that support and deepen learning.
• 2. Reflect upon professional practice to identify, evaluate and modify own behaviours using self-analysis and constructive feedback. Recognise where learning originates and translate new knowledge into own PDP
• 3. Compile, manage and edit a portfolio of evidence in support of own progression against the relevant Degree Apprentice learning objectives

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 4. Demonstrates a sound understanding of the role of the function in which you work, and how this role relates to other functions within your department and to the wider business (K2)
• 5. Identify and communicate perceived compliance risks to the relevant management or compliance personnel within the organisation (K6)
• 6. Communicate effectively and professionally with clients, external counterparties and internal staff. Adhere to internal standards, market protocols and regulatory rules and principles for reporting purposes. Understands the relationships and service requirements between markets, clients and their intermediaries (K12-15)

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 7. Communicating and Influencing (S21-23): Adopt high quality written and verbal communication skills as appropriate for communicating with internal and external clients. Build positive relationships with clients and colleagues using sound interpersonal and influencing skills. Coach/train less experienced colleagues. Communicate and negotiate complex situations and issues that may arise.
• 8. Adaptability (33): Willing to accept changing priorities and work patterns when new jobs need to be done, or when requirements change
• 9. Team working and Collaboration (S24-25): Consistently supports colleagues and the wider business, collaborating to achieve results. Aware of your role within the team, how your team fits within the business and how the team’s decisions impact on others. Takes a leadership role in the team when appropriate. Operates well under time pressure.
• 10. 10 Enthusiasm (34-35): Show drive and energy in your work, when things are going well and when challenges arise
• 11. Honesty and Integrity (31-32): Truthful, sincere in your actions and do the right thing (even when not the easiest). Handle client information confidentially
• 12. Personal Development (S29-30): Proactively plans and records your own development; seeks constructive feedback and incorporates within development plan. Keeps up to date with changes in all areas of the role. Shows commitment to the job and the industry.

Syllabus plan

The main outcome of this module is the creation of a Personal Development Plan (PDP).  In order to achieve it, the module is divided into three different sections respectively called 'Explore', 'Evolve' and 'Excel', which contain a set of Personal Development Activities (PDAs).  During the first section 'Explore' the apprentices will learn the academic skills to support their development through the qualifications.  They will also learn the  frameworks and tools necessary to develop themselves as a reflective practitioner, identifying where they are starting from and outlining their goals for meeting their potential.  Next the PDAs in the 'Evolve' section focus on developing the behaviours and skills as stated in the IOS standard. Finally, the third section ‘Excel’ is where the apprentices take off in achieving their goals set out in their Personal Development Plan and polish their portfolio ready for submission.

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Basic reading:

Cottrell, S. (2015) Skills for success: personal development and employability . Palgrave Macmillan

Day, T. (2018) Success in Academic Writing. Palgrave Study Skills. Palgrave Macmillan

Miller, D. (2015) Brilliant Personal Effectiveness: What to know and say to make an impact at work. Pearson: UK

Supplementary text:

Cottrell, S (2017) Critical Thinking Skills; Developing Effective Analysis, argument and reflection. Palgrave Macmillan:

Paul, D., Cadle, J., & Thomas, P (2012) The Human Touch: Personal Skills for Professional Success. BCS: UK

Winstanley, D. (2009) Personal Effectiveness. Excel Books: UK

Gatrell, C (2006). Managing Part-time Study: A Guide for Undergraduates and Postgraduates.  McGraw-Hill Education (UK).

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

• ELE – https://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Key words search

  Personal effectiveness, interpersonal effectiveness, self-development, personal development, career management.