The Royal Society of Chemistry

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Undergraduate Postgraduate PDP frameworks in
the Chemical Sciences
Dr Kristy MacDonald CChem MRSC Development
Officer, Professional Education
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RSCs PDP for students

• CPD in context
• Importance of skills recording
• RSCs PDP for Postgraduate students
• Provision of PDP frameworks
• PDP for Undergraduate students

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CPD in context
"... the responsibility of individuals for the
systematic maintenance, improvement and
broadening of knowledge and skills to ensure
continuing competence as a professional
throughout their career".
continuing professional development is learning,
by whatever means, which helps the individual
realise and develop their potential.
recording frameworks based on the outcomes of
learning and development
skills development opportunities are prevalent
within the course of study, research and
employment
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RSCs CPD frameworks

• RSC strongly encourage all members to engage in
  CPD a comprehensive framework is available for
  professional members
• Since April 2000, Postgraduate students have had
  access to the PSR
• Since September 2002, Undergraduate students have
  had access to the USR
• A CPD framework tailored to the development needs
  of those individuals studying the chemical
  sciences
• The frameworks were designed after extensive
  consultation with industry, academic supervisors
  and students

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Importance of Skills Recording

• National Committee of Inquiry into Higher
  Education
• employers want graduates with a range of skills
• those leaving higher education need to
  understand how to learn and how to manage their
  own learning, recognising the process continues
  throughout life

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Importance of Skills Recording

• Chemistry in the UK, will it survive?
• Communication, team working capabilities, problem
  solving and organisation are becoming
  increasingly important in order to succeed in the
  rapidly changing and increasingly competitive
  world of industry

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What is the PSR?

• Self-assessment of skills acquired during
  postgraduate study
• The recording, assessment development of
  scientific, interpersonal transferable skills
• Records level of scientific and non-scientific
  attainment at three phases of postgraduate study
  

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What is the PSR?

• Induction

• Project Specific Skills

• Personal Information

• PhD Progress Plan

• Skills Audit

• Skills profile

• CPD

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What is the PSR?

• Six categories of skills self-assessed
  throughout
• the PhD

• Planning Organisation

• Handling Information

• Communication Skills

• Working with Others

• Scientific Practical

• Improving Learning Performance

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Skills Audit

• Series of statements associated with
• each specific skill

• Rate yourself against each statement according
• to the scale given

• Provide evidence to support your rating, and
• identify development targets for each skill

• Repeat for each phase, reflecting on past
• achievements and development targets/plans

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Skills Profile
A summary of skills achievements and
development throughout your undergraduate course
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Why is it important?

• Provides a framework for self-assessment of
  non-scientific skills
• This framework enables students to
• Identify areas which require development
• Identify skills gaps and actively seek
  development opportunities

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USR Project Rationale

• Skills recording

Secondary school Undergraduate Postgraduate Employ
ment
NRAs
?
PSR
CPD
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USR Project Rationale

• Postgraduate Skills Record

Successfully launched in 2000
87 of UK Ireland members of HECC requested
copies
Over 6000 copies distributed
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USR Project Rationale

• Postgraduate Skills Record Adaptation

Directors of Study
HE Networks

• Progress Files

USR to meet requirements of Progress Files PDP
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Student Trials

• Initial Reactions differed considerably to those
  after the workshops

After workshop
Initial Reactions

• Can see benefit after
• formal presentation
• Need for more explicit
• examples
• They didnt have to have
• separate skills lessons
• The USR and PSR are frameworks
• rather than a teaching manual
• Good career development tool
• Electronic format

• Records of Achievement
• No-one wants it
• Looks like a lot of work
• Where would they find time
• Doesnt look very nice
• Part-time students had more
• immediate buy-in

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What is the USR?

• Induction

• Personal Information

• Skills Audit Feedback

• Project Work

• Skills Profile Feedback

• Career Planning

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The Undergraduate Skills Record

• Specific Skills

• Planning Organisation

• Handling Information

• Communication Skills

• Working with Others

• Scientific Practical

• Problem Solving

• ICT Skills

• Improving Learning Performance

• Study Skills

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Example Skills Audit
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USR PSR

• What are the benefits?
• Method to critically assess skills
• Permanent record of performance development
• Preparation of CVs and job interviews
• Serves as a launch pad into Continuing
  Professional Development
• Could increase employability

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What the employers say..
Quintiles Core Competencies

• Communication skills - oral and written
• Team/Leadership skills
• Problem solving
• Project Planning/Management
• Resource/Time Management

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What the employers say..
In the pharmaceutical industry it is not enough
to understand the theory and practice of
chemistry, it is essential to be able to use this
knowledge to solve problems creatively and
efficiently Good teamwork and effective
communication skills underpin all RD endeavor.
Students who have developed these skills can look
forward to a stimulating, rewarding RD career.
I strongly recommend every postgraduate in the
chemical sciences, irrespective of their proposed
career path, to complete the PSR honestly and
diligently, providing a framework to identify
skills gaps and address these effectively. Dr D
Alker, Manager Academic Liaison and Recruitment,
Pfizer
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Further Information

• www.rsc.org/ugskills
• www.rsc.org/pgskills
• macdonaldk_at_rsc.org