The 3D Graduate Scheme
Background to 3D Graduate
Following the recommendations of the Dearing Report in 1997, all HE institutions are required to offer students a form of Personal Development Planning (PDP). PDP is defined as:
‘a structured and supported process undertaken by an individual to reflect upon their own learning and/or achievement and to plan for their personal, educational and career development’. Dearing Report 1997
PDP is one part of the ‘HE Progress File’ that takes the form of the Transcript (the record of a students’ achievement, which is held in Registry), Personal Development Records (personal information owned by the student) and Personal Development Planning (the supported process offered by institutions).
The 3D Graduate Scheme
Since 2007/08 Goldsmiths has offered a form Personal Development Planning through the 3D Graduate Scheme; entitled as such because it supports students in development in three areas, personal, academic and career development. The was implemented through two means:
- Through the Personal tutoring system, with undergraduates being offered up to three personal tutoring sessions per year, structured to help students engage in the key concepts underpinning PDP, such as reflective learning and action planning
- Through an integrated website which offer the opportunity for students’ self-directed learning.
In the learning and teaching strategy, the attributes of Goldsmiths 3D Graduate were defined. Central to the 3D Graduate experience, is the notion of academic development and supporting students in making the transition from one learning experience to (an often radically) different one.
Departmental Responsibilities
It is now generally recognised that PDP, including the 3D Graduate scheme, works most successfully when delivered by academic departments as a part of a students’ core learning experience. As such, it is acknowledged that individual departments will want to implement their own individual structure and strategies for engaging students in PDP processes. To support this approach we have devised plans for PDP workshops which departments can tailor to their own needs.
It is recognised that most departments will wish to adopt their own strategies which will better suit the specific needs of their students and departmental structures, and still provide the structured support that will help students.
As well as adopting departmental approached to offering PDP, Academic staff should also encourage students, at all levels, to us the resources available on the student 3D Graduate website for self-directed personal development planning opportunities, including provision for completing a PDP portfolio.
