PPD Personal and Professional Development course timetable

Minute taking is not about speed writing but about recognising what is important and understanding the needs of the meeting participants. This course will show you how to compile concise meeting notes.

The course is for anyone who is required to take factual records of departmental/faculty meetings and distribute action points afterwards. It does not cover the additional skills required to take minutes at University committee meetings.

A short course covering a manager’s role in promoting a reduced stress environment in the workplace and evaluating stress risks for employees. It will also look at how to manage specific cases of stress using the Health and Safety Executive’s management standards.

If you are new to supervising graduate students at Cambridge (who are studying both for one-year courses or PhDs) the Board of Graduate Studies strongly recommends you to take part in some form of professional development. In collaboration with BGS, Personal and Professional Development offers training and support for newly-appointed supervisors of graduate students and for those new to the Cambridge system. The workshops, which run over lunchtime, are designed to consider reciprocal expectations and duties, as well as approaches to supervising, and to raise awareness of possible issues and where to go for support.

Even the most skilled communicators sometimes struggle to get their message across. This course will equip you with the mindset and knowledge to communicate effectively when it really matters. Learn how to deliver your message with sincerity, clarity and enthusiasm. Staff who wish to improve their one-to-one communication skills in challenging and difficult situations will benefit from this course.

Springboard is a personal development programme for all women staff/graduate students. It will give you the opportunity to take stock and consider your personal and professional goals. During the programme you will explore your future in a practical way and learn how to develop your potential. You will undertake realistic self-assessment and set challenging goals. Key areas covered include communication skills, assertiveness, self confidence, improving your work/life balance and developing positive skills and attitude. If you want to progress and develop, then this programme is for you.

The programme comprises four days over a three-month period and a workbook to be completed between sessions.

This course prepares you to excel at interview. You will learn how to anticipate questions you will be asked and plan how to answer them successfully. You will also learn how to project yourself positively and feel as calm and in control as you will look. This course is highly participative and will include a short mock interview as well as an opportunity to share experiences with other course members.

The focus of the course is to provide participants with the generic skills necessary to succeed at interview in a variety of contexts. Research staff/postdoctoral research staff are advised to refer to the University Careers Service for information on specific Careers Programmes for research staff/postdoctoral research staff, including interview skills support. For contact details and further information please visit www.careers.cam.ac.uk

If you are new to supervising graduate students at Cambridge (studying both for one-year courses or PhDs) the Board of Graduate Studies strongly recommends you to take part in some form of professional development. In collaboration with BGS, Personal and Professional Development offers training and support for newly-appointed supervisors of graduate students and for those new to the Cambridge system. The workshops, which run over lunchtime, are designed to consider reciprocal expectations and duties, as well as approaches to supervising, and to raise awareness of possible issues and where to go for support.

This course prepares you to excel at interview. You will learn how to anticipate questions you will be asked and plan how to answer them successfully. You will also learn how to project yourself positively and feel as calm and in control as you will look. This course is highly participative and will include a short mock interview as well as an opportunity to share experiences with other course members.

The focus of the course is to provide participants with the generic skills necessary to succeed at interview in a variety of contexts. Research staff/postdoctoral research staff are advised to refer to the University Careers Service for information on specific Careers Programmes for research staff/postdoctoral research staff, including interview skills support. For contact details and further information please visit www.careers.cam.ac.uk

Is English not your first language?

Would you like to incorporate Standard English pronunciation into your everyday speech?

This course will look at the differences and similarities between your natural accent and that of Standard English. It will help to maintain positive aspects of your natural accent whilst enabling you to be easily understood by native English speakers.

Would you like to learn exercises that will reduce vocal strain, improve vocal range, variety, clarity and pronunciation and gain and hold the attention of an audience? Would you like to make a positive initial impact and keep control of difficult situations? In this individualised and confidential one-hour session you will determine the objectives and work on exercises to address your specific interests.

Would you like to learn exercises that will reduce vocal strain, improve vocal range, variety, clarity and pronunciation and gain and hold the attention of an audience? Would you like to make a positive initial impact and keep control of difficult situations? In this individualised and confidential one-hour session you will determine the objectives and work on exercises to address your specific interests.

Would you like to learn exercises that will reduce vocal strain, improve vocal range, variety, clarity and pronunciation and gain and hold the attention of an audience? Would you like to make a positive initial impact and keep control of difficult situations? In this individualised and confidential one-hour session you will determine the objectives and work on exercises to address your specific interests.

Recommended for those responsible for the recruitment and selection of staff, who are interested in developing further skills in this area. This course prepares you to effectively carry out the recruitment and selection process taking you through the stages of producing a person specification, short listing effectively against selection criteria, designing questions, structuring and conducting interviews, and making the final decision. University policies and procedures will also be covered.

Managing and leading projects is a key skill, and yet it is often poorly understood and actioned; leading to projects that overrun, overspend or overwork the delivery teams.

This blended programme comprises an online module and a face to face workshop. You will be expected to have completed the online material before attending the face to face workshop.

The online module will provide you with a complete toolkit of project management skills (distilled from a number of sound project management “methodologies”) and an overview of various project planning techniques. It has been developed to help you focus on a project you are actively involved in (or one that is about to commence). You will apply a number of tools to real life situations and leave with a clear understanding of the major management issues and the basis of a clear and workable project plan.

The face to face workshop provides an opportunity to build on the learning from the online module. Working with others you will identify options and strategies to help move your project forward and consider solutions to problems you may have encountered.

Instructions regarding how to access the online module will be given in your booking confirmation email.

For additional guidance to help you gain the most from this blended programme you can download our Guide to successful online learning.

If you would prefer to complete just the online module without attending a face to face workshop, please visit the booking page for the online module only.

Forming a key component to the Strategic Development Programme but open to those in administrative leadership roles, the Seminar Series aims to explore the experiences of specialists in HE administration from both inside and outside the University.

Dr Peter Hedges, Head of the University’s Research Office, will explore the key developments in research and research funding including the REF.

As a manager, handling relationships is one of your key skills. An ability to think, speak and act assertively in these relationships will enhance your reputation and success. If you want to motivate staff, earn their loyalty and enable them to achieve the best possible results, then this course is for you. It will also deal with the challenges of managing your own manager assertively.

Increase your confidence and skills in one-to-one communication with this highly participative course. Effective communication starts in your head and it isn’t just about the words you say. Your tone of voice, facial expression and body language all communicate a message. This course will help you get your message across more clearly. You will also have the opportunity to practise communication skills on a one-to-one basis.

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a conflict wondering how you got into it and how to get out? This course sets out to identify and examine the causes of conflict and to offer a range of practical techniques for resolving disputes. Skilled negotiation is often crucial and this course introduces a proven approach that is used widely by professional mediators and negotiators. You will have the opportunity to explore and practice key ideas using presentation, self assessment, role play and discussion in a friendly and informal group setting.

The Staff Review and Development process provides the opportunity for supervisors, managers and academics to engage in constructive discussion with their staff or academic colleagues about current and future work and their personal and career development.

This course will focus on how you can prepare for and get the most out of your review meeting. You will also have the opportunity to develop a range of skills and techniques that may be used during reviews to focus on setting objectives and action planning.

Would you like to learn exercises that will reduce vocal strain, improve vocal range, variety, clarity and pronunciation to gain and hold the attention of an audience?

Would you like to make a positive initial impact and keep control of difficult situations?

In this individualised and confidential one-hour session you will determine the objectives and work on exercises to address your specific interests.

Would you like to learn exercises that will reduce vocal strain, improve vocal range, variety, clarity and pronunciation to gain and hold the attention of an audience?

Would you like to make a positive initial impact and keep control of difficult situations?

In this individualised and confidential one-hour session you will determine the objectives and work on exercises to address your specific interests.

Would you like to learn exercises that will reduce vocal strain, improve vocal range, variety, clarity and pronunciation to gain and hold the attention of an audience?

Would you like to make a positive initial impact and keep control of difficult situations?

In this individualised and confidential one-hour session you will determine the objectives and work on exercises to address your specific interests.

This course is recommended for those responsible for the recruitment and selection of staff, particularly if you are new to the University but also for existing staff seeking a refresher.

With the introduction of the Points-based immigration system and with immigration legislation becoming ever stricter, the UK now operates one of the world’s most complex immigration systems.

The aim of this course is to help those involved with recruitment and selection to navigate the rules which regulate the recruitment of individuals who are subject to immigration control, whilst ensuring full compliance. It will outline the key requirements in advertising, selection, pre-employment checks and the responsibilities throughout employment that the University is legally bound to observe.

Would you like to learn exercises that will reduce vocal strain, improve vocal range, variety, clarity and pronunciation to gain and hold the attention of an audience?

Would you like to make a positive initial impact and keep control of difficult situations?

In this individualised and confidential one-hour session you will determine the objectives and work on exercises to address your specific interests.

Would you like to learn exercises that will reduce vocal strain, improve vocal range, variety, clarity and pronunciation to gain and hold the attention of an audience?

Would you like to make a positive initial impact and keep control of difficult situations?

In this individualised and confidential one-hour session you will determine the objectives and work on exercises to address your specific interests.

Would you like to learn exercises that will reduce vocal strain, improve vocal range, variety, clarity and pronunciation to gain and hold the attention of an audience?

Would you like to make a positive initial impact and keep control of difficult situations?

In this individualised and confidential one-hour session you will determine the objectives and work on exercises to address your specific interests.