Aspiring Futures
Continuing Professional Development
- Identify a minimum of one and a maximum of three SMART CPD targets in the short, medium, and long-term columns. SMART means: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. When explaining relevance, please provide a brief justification (e.g., "this will help me achieve the skills I need to move on in my career", or "this will help me be a better team player which will improve company performance.")
- Identify at least one ‘barrier' per SMART target (i.e., who/what might make it difficult for you to achieve this goal?)
- Identify at least one ‘facilitator' per SMART target (i.e., who/what can help you achieve this goal?). The facilitator should directly relate to overcoming the ‘barriers' identified.
- Copy and paste this table into your written Portfolio document.
The portfolio assessment is an opportunity for you to reflect on your current skills and experience in the light of current and future labour market trends.
You have two options for your assessment:
Option 1: You know what you want to do after you leave University.
Option 2: You don't know what you want to do after you leave University.
The assignment must include the following sections:
• Introduction
• Narrative CV
• Main Body
• Conclusion
• Reference List
• Appendices: PDR, PDP, Skills Audit, CPD (see files below)
Guidance on what to include:
• Introduction: to the portfolio and how you have tackled it (option one or two)
• Narrative CV: a couple of paragraphs introducing yourself to set the scene
• Main body: see below depending on option one or two
• Conclusion: bring the document to a close, highlight the next steps for yourself
• Reference list: must not just rely on websites, should be broad-ranging
• Appendices: PDR - personal development from the time you joined UWS; PDP - plan for personal development in the next 12 months; Skills Audit - a review of key graduate skills with commentary; CPD - plan for continuing professional development
Main body - Option 1: You know what you want to do after you leave University.
If you choose Option 1, you should focus your portfolio on the career path that you wish to follow after graduation. It is expected that you include information about a particular job, course of study, or career path of interest to you, and use your portfolio to demonstrate your suitability for that, taking into account any personal and professional development you have planned between now and graduation. You should use appropriate references to show information about the role(s), typical organisations recruiting, locations, salary levels, career opportunities, and any other information that supports your writing.
Main body - Option 2: You don't know what you want to do after you leave University.
If you choose Option 2, you should focus your portfolio on showcasing potential opportunities that are available to you as a graduate of your programme. It is expected that your portfolio will be more general, but that you will include information about the criteria which you are using to explore the labour market. Use your portfolio to demonstrate your suitability for the potential paths that you identify, taking into account any personal and professional development you have planned between now and graduation. You should use appropriate references to show information about the role(s), typical organisations recruiting, locations, salary levels, career opportunities and any other information that supports your case.