ePortfolio Simon Cotterill FMS Learning and Teaching Support Unit

Today’s session What is the ePortfolio for? Demonstration Why bother? Sources of help and support for your development

About the Portfolio Portfolio:  Includes support for research skills  Continue to use if you do a PhD. Recording meetings with tutors/supervisors Record and Reflect on Achievements Awareness of transferable and specialist skills Promoting your role in actively developing your research skills -- be more effective during your Masters / PhD -- broader research & transferable skills for your career Express your skills and relate them to potential employers Portfolios

Record your meetings with tutors

“My Skills” – you may already be subscribed to RDF. If not subscribe as follows…

Researcher Development Framework Image courtesy of Vitae: (all rights reserved)

Blog integrated with “My Skills”

Demonstration

Why bother?

1. Importance of skills and competencies in getting that job

2. Generic/transferable skills used in employment

Employers’ views on skills needed “…virtually all of the employers said that they assumed the subject specific skills would be associated with study at a postgraduate level…therefore the main basis for deciding to recruit an individual was in terms of their complement of soft skills” Institute of Employment Studies / EPSRC study of employers of PhD physicists Skills employers believe postgraduates lacked: – commercial awareness – flexibility and adaptability – interpersonal skills, team-working skills and customer orientation Transferable, complementary, generic, employment related or soft skills are all terms used. Being able to evidence that you have developed and used these skills will help you to obtain employment and enhance your career.

3. Likely used throughout your career… Competency Frameworks Appraisal and feedback Performance Management Self Assessment

“We spend more time planning our holidays than we do planning our lives !”

Student views on the ePortfolio 92 student users were surveyed by student intern in 2011: ‘It encourages you to think about all the skills that you have gained’ ‘Serves as a reminder for skills I’ve used when writing personal statements and applications for jobs’ ‘I can see how I’ve progressed and become more professional’

Resources Tutors / MRes staff Programme Handbook Research Councils Careers Service Prospects Vitae (UK Grad)

Careers Service Level 1 Kings Gate No appointment required – just call in! Advice & Guidance available Monday to Friday 11am – 4.30pm Open from 10am term-time and vacation

ePortfolio has been developed so you can... …record meetings with tutors / supervisors …record your research progress …plan and monitor your professional development (PDP) …reflect upon the skills you have gained Please use it! Remember to use RDF ePortfolio instructions/FAQ: ePortfolio queries:

& ‘ePortfolios’ tab in Blackboard