Business Skills

Abstract

This report is designed to identify the necessity of personal development planning and to discuss research findings in this filed.  Besides, this report also describes the importance of personal development planning for students and observes different skills and models of personal development plan by analysing a series of various books, primary researches, magazine articles, and internet website which are relevant with the topic of personal development.

1. Introduction

In current time, self-development has become an essential step toward success. Knowing your own strengths and weaknesses can help you to create the most effective path to achieve your goals. Besides, it can also help you to combat obstacles before you reach it. (James, 2013) One of the workable methods to develop your strengths and weakness is having a personal development plan. Personal Development Planning is a structured and supported process undertaken by an individual to reflect upon their own learning, performance or achievement and to plan for their personal, educational and career development. (QAA, 2016)

2. The importance of personal development planning for students

There are various significant reasons why students need to have a Personal Development Planning.

An effective Personal Development Planning will help students be more self-aware. (Bath.ac.uk, 2016) Personal Development Planning encourages students to identify their strengths and weaknesses before setting their action plans. Hence, students will be able to recognise who they are, what they want and which areas need to be improved. Moreover, self-awareness offer students to have a clear sense of their own direction and they will be able to make decision confidently when dealing with choices.

Furthermore, students will be more motivated when they reflect on their learning experiences and achievement. By thinking through their skills and experiences, it will be easier for them to focus on the areas which they want to develop and understand what they have learnt in the progress. Besides, reflection on progress also enables the articulation and achievement of their personal targets.

In addition, Personal Development Planning is an outstanding independent learning approach for students to achieve their goals. It provides a mechanism to help students develop an understanding of and ability to enhance employability skills. (CUL, 2016) For example, by creating development plan regularly, students are repeatedly inspired to learn new areas of skill or learning needs in order to be more competitive with their peers.

Last but not least, the personal development plan is a very valuable record of achievements and professional development which can become a profile of students’ assignment and exam results, as well as their skill development when they are compiling their curriculum vitae. Perfect curriculum vitae will help students to become succeed in their career development. Besides, it also recording the outcomes of learning and allow tutors to monitor their student effectively.

3. Analysis of primary research