1. Actors and Radiographers: A comparison of approaches to embedding PDP and Employability
Fiona Boyle
Employability Coordinator
Centre for Academic Practice

2. Background to Employability in Scotland and QMU
Enhancement theme followed by specific SFC funding (all HEIs)
Audit: employer links, volunteering, curriculum, careers service, Jobshop, PDP, Students’ Union
Facilitation, integration, dissemination and sustainability
SFC Evaluation: engaging at the strategic level, frontline academic staff, student bodies and learners, employers

3. BA (Hons) Acting and Performance World of Work Modules
Embedded in all years (one continuous PDP?!)
Development of skills, knowledge and the ability to be a reflective practitioner
Year 1: Introduction to reflection and research (journal)
Year 2: Development of a professional attitude
Year 3:Transition from student-actor to professional actor
Year 4: A comprehensive professional portfolio that can include visual and aural material

4. BA Acting and Performance The Actor’s Journal
1st year: 5 entries per week
Hand-written – can include anything
Personalised – choice of materials, photos, textures
Reflection on workshops, rehearsals, watching TV, films, observations of people, animals
Identifying something that resonates with life and course
The journal is the student’s voice: a conduit
Assessed

5. BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography e-Portfolio for clinical placements
Professional body requirements
Pebblepad: 2nd – 4th year and introduction to 1st yr 08/09 (replacement of paper-based portfolios)
Generic induction + subject specific guidelines
13 submissions through the Gateway (one for each week of placement)
Mandatory elements + allowance for personalisation
Pass/fail assessment
Failures: wrong gateway, inadequate standard of reflection e.g. 20 words for 1 week’s practice

6. Issues to consider
Is one approach “better” than the other? (Does it matter?)
Small groups of students – possible for much larger groups?
Assessment
Implications for subject-specific staff?
Implications for support staff?
Implications for the rest of the university?
What do employers think?
After graduation – what next for our students’ PDP?