Postgraduate Development Record (PDR) system

What is the PDR? The Postgraduate Development Record (PDR) is a University-wide, web-based system to record meetings with supervisors, record training, and track postgraduate student progress It will be used across the University from September 2011 It is for all Postgraduate Research students and all those involved in the career of a research student, i.e. - supervisor(s) - postgraduate research tutors - internal and external examiners, advisors, external supervisors, research groups, members of transfer assessment panel - administrators

Intended benefits Help PGR students to record and track their progress Allow supervisors and PGR Tutors easier access and overview Web-based, securely accessible off campus Allow for electronic sign off of key documents Allow joint supervisors to share information more easily Indicate and send reminders about ‘milestone activities’ Provide a record of progress and supervision Provide reports Easy for students and supervisors to use without training needed Flexible to suit certain faculty and school requirements Replace paper-based processes.

The PDR will support these requirements Monitoring Attendance The University must ensure appropriate arrangements are in place for monitoring attendance to meet UKBA arrangements for Tier 4 visas Supervision Meetings Ensuring “fit for purpose” meeting notes of formal supervisory meetings Recording any reservations about progress, so that students are aware Recording minimum 10 supervision meetings a year, required for those who first registered in or after September 2005 (min. 5 meetings part time, as appropriate for split site)

Transfer The whole of the transfer process will be recorded in the PDR, from arranging transfer to submission of documentation and transfer report sign off

Research Training Postgraduate Research students must attend training specified within their training plan Training needs analysis is undertaken within one month of commencement and reviewed min. annually; the needs analysis report can be uploaded onto the PDR Training can be recorded in the PDR, i.e. a. SDDU training from SAP TEM database b. Faculty and School level c. Ad hoc training, including external, in a free text area

Milestones The PDR allows you to track milestones (specific dates for meetings, completion, etc.). These can be added by an administrator, supervisors, or students.

Student’s view

Supervisor’s view

Administrator’s view

Link and contacts Access the PDR from September 2011 at then enter your ISS University username and password. For further information Local contact David Appleyard (IT); Michelle Lesnianski (PGR Admin) Central contact (to October 2011) Sally Edwards, RSA contact (policy & process) Catherine Mills, See also