Evaluation of PDP University of Strathclyde

Why evaluate PDP now? PDP became an entitlement for all first year undergraduate students in 2004 and was intended subsequently to be rolled out to all years of undergraduate study. There is now a cohort of students who could have been taking part in PDP activities throughout their period of study at Strathclyde.

What exactly do we want to evaluate? The implementation of PDP policy and strategy across the University The current use and effectiveness of PDP The student experience of PDP across the University

What are the intended outcomes? Generally Monitor the roll out of PDP across the University Identify areas of best practice Identify any unintended outcomes

What are the intended outcomes? From the student perspective Understand student perceptions of the usefulness/efficacy of PDP Understanding of student attitudes to PDP

Who are the main stakeholders? Students Staff Senior Management

Evaluation questions For Heads of Department/Course Organisers What does PDP mean in your context? What is PDP for in your context? Is PDP credit bearing in your context? Is PDP associated with a particular tool in your context?

Evaluation questions For Heads of Department/Course Organisers How did you implement PDP into your courses? Has PDP been extended to PGIs/PGRs? How does the department support student engagement in PDP? Has the department undertaken any monitoring/evaluation of PDP? If so, what conclusions were drawn?

Evaluation Questions For Students What do you understand by the term PDP (or PPD or other variant)? Have you engaged with PDP? Suggest one key improvement to PDP in the Department

How is the evaluation being carried out? Jointly by staff from the Governance, Management and Policy Team and the Centre for Academic Practice and Learning Enhancement Evidence gathered from a variety of viewpoints Using a mix of methods

How is the evaluation being carried out with staff? Online questionnaire to Heads of Department/Course Organisers

How is the evaluation being carried out for students? Inclusion of the three questions on PDP in Part 3 of the online FYE survey Inclusion of the three questions on PDP in pyramid discussions with second and third year undergraduate students

Initial outcomes Implications both for how policy is implemented across a devolved management structure Implications for staff development Possible scope for development of joint PDP tutor/Personal tutor/Academic Counsellor role.