PPD Personal and Professional Development course timetable

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 programme offers an introduction to management skills and is externally accredited by the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM). It is highly participative and there is a strong emphasis on applying new learning to your work situation for the benefit of your team and your department.

The course is primarily aimed at those who currently have management responsibilities for others (including managers, team leaders or supervisors) or equivalent responsibilities (e.g. for managing services, projects, resources). All participants must have the opportunity to meet the assessment requirements which are specified by the ILM – please see further details below.

Please note that there is currently a waiting list for this programme. If you are interested in attending please complete the application form at the link below and send a signed paper copy to PPD. Your application will be considered and your name will be added to the waiting list if you are eligible. When a place becomes available we will contact you to confirm your place.

Level 3 Award in First Line Management Application Form - your application to attend the programme will not be considered until we have received a copy of this application document.

This programme develops a range of leadership and management skills and knowledge including the following topics: the role of the manager/leader, engaging and developing others and managing work and performance. It is highly participative and there is a strong emphasis on applying new learning to your work situation for the benefit of your team and your department.

The programme has been revised due to changes to course requirements for the Institute of Leadership in Management (ILM). The programme will not therefore be accredited by the ILM. However it does include those topics identified as most relevant to middle managers in the University and is broadly equivalent to Level 5 within the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Successful achievement of the programme requires the assessment work to be completed as this gives evidence of how managers have developed and how they are putting their learning into practice.

If you are interested in participating in this programme, please complete the application form at the following link and send a signed hard copy to PPD: Level 5 in Leadership and Management Application Form

Please also make a booking for the Briefing Session. The Briefing will enable you to learn more about the programme and to identify if it will meet your leadership and management development needs. Places will be confirmed following the briefing.

This participative workshop will review learning activities and highlight areas where barriers could exist along with best practice in avoiding them. It will provide an opportunity to discuss best practice and work through concerns about including students. The session will focus on practical strategies to ensure that inclusive practice is included in planning and thus becomes straightforward and mainstream to include.

This is a practical and important interactive session which is designed to provide clarity, guidance and direction for managers in preventing and dealing with Dignity at Work complaints. It will explain the legal framework, and will clarify policy options, and highlight practical measures to prevent and tackle inappropriate behaviour.

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.

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.

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.

The Staff Review and Development (SRD) 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.

You must have completed the Effective Staff Review and Development: Online module before attending this practical. The online module focuses on an overview of the process, practical advice and useful reminders of good practice.

This practical session for reviewers is an opportunity to build on your learning from the online module, to discuss SRD with other reviewers, to practise and receive supportive feedback in a short practical activity and to ask any further questions.

All Managers have a legal duty to take reasonable care to ensure that the health of their staff is not put at risk through excessive and sustained levels of work associated stress. So what should the manager actually do? This focused interactive course involves examination of case studies illustrating several aspects of the manager's role that includes evaluating risk, promoting a reduced stress environment and managing cases of stress using the Health and Safety Executive’s management standards as well as practical methods.

This highly participative development programme draws on the expertise of senior figures in the University. It provides an introduction to the various strands and issues of University strategy and governance; it includes some skills development and offers a valuable opportunity to network.

Application for this programme is by nomination by Head of Institution. Heads of Institutions will be invited to make nominations in August/September.

Would you like to gain nationally recognised accreditation of your teaching experience? Many UK universities now expect teaching staff seeking tenure to have undertaken or to undertake a structured teaching and learning development course accredited by the HE Academy. This session provides an overview of the route by which those with some experience of teaching in Higher Education may gain accreditation. It also provides a short introduction to the HE Academy itself.

Do you dread speaking in public or giving presentations? Or are you looking to build on your current skills and experience to make your planning and delivery more effective? This blended programme aims to develop your skills, knowledge and confidence in both formal and informal presentation situations e.g. meetings, training sessions and conferences.

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 an opportunity to explore key areas in both preparation and delivery of presentations.

The face to face workshop provides an opportunity to try out material and receive constructive feedback, before doing it for real. You should come to the workshop prepared to deliver a short presentation (5 to 10 minutes maximum on a topic of your choice) and to both give and receive feedback in a friendly and informal group setting. Please note that the workshop will not cover or review the material that is given in the online module, however there will be time to question or clarify any particular areas.

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.

This participative, discussion based workshop will provide an opportunity to reflect on how students with mental health difficulties can be supported to complete their PhDs. It will cover best practice in supporting students and update on services available to all involved.

The rights and responsibilities outlined in the Data Protection and Freedom of Information Acts increasingly impact upon the University’s academic and administrative work. This course explores the key concepts in the Data Protection Act 1998 and illustrates how the ‘data protection principles’ affect various day-to-day working scenarios. It introduces the fundamental aspects of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and details the ways in which the University handles responses to individual requests under both Acts. Finally, it outlines various records management and information security measures that can aid compliance with the legislation and lead to a more efficient working environment.

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.

This course will consider the academic barriers experienced by students with Specific Learning Difficulties. It will cover a range of teaching environments and increase your awareness of best practice in implementing support. Most importantly it will give practical advice about best practice to ensure an effective learning environment for all involved. The course will focus on dyslexia, dyspraxia and dysgraphia.

Understanding Specific Learning Difficulties: Identification and Diagnosis (Briefing) is a useful precursor to this workshop, as it will not cover diagnosis or identification of specific learning difficulties.