Programme Specification for Personal and Professional Development by Distance Learning Post Graduate Certificate (PGCert)
This programme is no longer recruiting.
This programme is only offered at: Offered only in collaboration with RDI.
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Final award |
Post Graduate Certificate (PGCert) |
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Intermediate awards available |
Post Graduate Associate Certificate (Un-named) |
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UCAS code |
N/A |
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Details of professional body accreditation |
N/A |
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Relevant QAA Benchmark statements |
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Date specification last up-dated |
April 2012 |
Profile
The summary - programme advertising leaflet
Programme content
Aims
This programme aims to help you to develop yourself in your professional and personal lives. It aims to increase your self-awareness and reflective abilities and provides opportunities for you to apply theoretical concepts to their own situations. You are encouraged to identify your personal beliefs and values and their influence on your life choices and/or behaviour.
Topics
Topics studied include self-awareness, personal change and self-esteem, emotional intelligence goal setting; strategy selection and evaluation; motivation; occupational choice, the labour market, legal concepts and personal values.
Personal and Professional Development at UEL
- A distance programme which gives you the freedom to continue in employment whilst pursuing your studies.
- The flexibility to pay for modules on an individual basis.
Admission requirements
A first degree in any discipline at 2.2 or above (or equivalent qualification).
If your first language is not English, then IELTS 6.5 or equivalent (applicants should have a minimum score of 6 in both the writing and comprehension components) is required. International qualifications will be checked for appropriate matriculation to UK Higher Education postgraduate programmes.
Technical requirements
To participate in the programme you need:
- Regular access to a PC or Mac capable of running standard MS Office software (or Equivalent) for producing word-processed documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Your PC must also be capable of running the required plugins for the Virtual Learning Environment (Adobe Flash player, Adobe PDF viewer, Apple Quicktime).
- Reliable Internet access; at least a 56K modem connection, but broadband is highly recommended. For each module that you take, you will be expected to spend approximately 3-6 hours online per week, participating in discussions and accessing resources.
- The latest version of your chosen Internet browser. We recommend and support Mozilla Firefox 1.5+, Microsoft Internet Explorer 7+ and Apple Safari 3+.
- A valid and reliable email address.
- Access to a printer is recommended.
Learning environment
The programme is delivered exclusively by distance learning, so it is essential that you have easy and regular access to the Internet and email. Each module consists of reading material and a series of self-check and interactive tasks in which you discuss the issues raised in each module. In addition to online discussions, which involve the module leader on a weekly basis, you also have access to the module Leader directly via the RDI Virtual Learning Environment (VLE).
Assessment
Each module is assessed separately by course work. There will be 4 assessment points per academic year which are in January, April, July and October. You are expected to complete each module in approximately 12-15 weeks, but may take up to three years to study a particular module. You must take all components of the module’s assessment for the same assessment point.
Relevance to work/profession
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Thesis/Dissertation/project work
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Added value
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Your future career
This programme can enhance career development in a wide range of fields but has particular relevance for those working in: Human Resources; Coaching and Mentoring; Training; Voluntary Sector; Social Enterprise; Retail and Management
How we support you
On enrolment, you will be provided with introductory materials on the use of the RDI VLE.
During your studies, you will be supported by an RDI Distance Learning Student Support Coordinator (DLSSC). The DLSSC acts as a first point of contact for you, addressing the majority of your queries and referring only those that relate to academic matters to the module leader. The DLSSC will also contact you if you fall behind and will offer advice and encouragement to you.
You will receive academic support from your individual module leader. The role of the module leader is to monitor the effectiveness of your learning during the module for which they are responsible, providing feedback, encouragement and support, and any necessary remedial action.
We also provide useful advice and information in our Student Handbook.
Bonus factors
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Outcomes
Programme aims and learning outcomes
What is this programme designed to achieve?
This programme is designed to give you the opportunity to:
- develop your knowledge of theories and interventions in different areas of personal development
- increase your self-awareness, autonomous thinking and reflective abilities
- develop your knowledge of interventions to enhance your quality of life and well-being
- enable you to develop a greater sense of control
- equip you with a set of skills that will enable you to further your professional development and assist with the professional development of colleagues.
What will you learn?
Knowledge
- define and demonstrate a systematic understanding of personal development
- organise and integrate comprehensive knowledge about major areas of personal development
- critically discuss research relevant to personal development and well-being
- develop an informed perspective on the legislative and legal frameworks within which professional rights and responsibilities can be explored.
- analyse existing and hypothetical situations to identify ethical issues and dilemmas, and apply ethical decision-making models.
Thinking skills
- apply critical thinking in order to evaluate theories and research
- demonstrate appropriate self-reflection skills
- discuss and critically evaluate how cognitive biases affect decision making.
Subject-Based Practical skills
- apply a range of techniques and methods used in personal development.
- critically evaluate interventions designed to improve quality of life and well-being
- demonstrate competence with team building and motivational skills.
- reflect on a range of time management and organisational techniques
Skills for life and work (general skills)
- demonstrate competence in identifying and contextualising their own and others’ strengths
- recognise the value of and show enhanced awareness of self
- apply knowledge gained to personal and work settings
- critically analyse differences between traditional and innovative approaches to problem solving.
- apply strategies for managing ethical dilemmas or conflicts, such as supervision, complaints procedures
- critically evaluate various antecedents of conflict.
Structure
The programme structure
Introduction
At the University of East London all programmes are credit-rated to help you to understand the amount and level of study that is needed.
One credit is equal to 10 hours of directed study time (this includes everything you do e.g. lecture, seminar and private study).
Credits are assigned to one of 5 levels:
- 0 - equivalent in standard to GCE 'A' level and is intended to prepare students for year one of an undergraduate degree programme
- 1 - equivalent in standard to the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 2 - equivalent in standard to the second year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- 3 - equivalent in standard to the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
- M - equivalent in standard to a Masters degree
Credit rating
The overall credit-rating of this programme is 60 level M
Typical duration
We expect that you will take at least 6 months to complete this programme. However, you may vary from this, by taking breaks between periods of study to accommodate any external factors such as domestic commitments. We offer four assessment points per year and your Distance Learning Student Support Coordinator at RDI will help you decide which assessment points you should aim for.
The maximum duration for this programme is 6 years, and the maximum time for any one module is 3 years. Your DLSSC can help you to decide on and plan for an amount of study that suits you.
How the teaching year is divided
The teaching year is divided into four study periods of roughly equal length. They are aligned with the 4 intake and assessment points as defined above.
What you will study when
This programme comprises two modules at level M. The modules can be studied in any order.
|
Year |
Module title |
Credit |
status |
|---|---|---|---|
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M |
Personal Development |
30 |
Core |
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M |
Professional Development |
30 |
Core |
Requirements for gaining an award
- In order to gain an un-named PG Associate Certificate, you will need to obtain 30 credits at level M.
- In order to gain a PG Certificate in Personal and Professional Development, you will need to obtain 60 credits at level M.
Assessment
Teaching, learning and assessment
Teaching and learning
Knowledge is developed through
- Guided reading
- Knowledge-based activities with feedback
- Online discussions and activities
Thinking skills are developed through
- Reflective activities with feedback
- Online discussions and activities
Practical skills are developed through
- IT activities with feedback
- Research skills-based activities with feedback
Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through
- the demands of the study medium (i.e. distance learning)
- Planning activities with feedback
- Project work
Quality
How we assure the quality of this programme
Before this programme started
Before this programme started the University checked that:
- there would be enough qualified staff to teach the programme;
- adequate resources would be in place;
- the overall aims and objectives were appropriate;
- the content of the programme met national benchmark requirements;
- the programme met any professional/statutory body requirements;
- the proposal met other internal quality criteria covering a range of issues such as admissions policy, teaching, learning and assessment strategy and student support mechanisms.
This is done through a process of programme approval which involves convening a panel of academic experts including some subject specialists from other institutions. Each panel member scrutinises key documents and talks to the staff who will deliver the programme before deciding whether it should be approved.
How we monitor the quality of this programme
The quality of this programme is monitored each year through evaluating:
- external examiner reports (considering quality and standards);
- statistical information (considering issues such as the pass rate);
- student feedback.
Drawing on this and other information, programme teams undertake the annual Review and Enhancement Process which is co-ordinated at School level and includes student participation. The process is monitored by our Quality and Standards Committee.
Once every six years we undertake an in-depth review of the whole field. This is undertaken by a panel that includes at least two external subject specialists. The panel considers documents, looks at student work, speaks to current and former students and speaks to staff before drawing its conclusions. The result is a report highlighting good practice and identifying areas where action is needed.
The role of the programme committee
This programme has a programme committee comprising all relevant teaching staff, student representatives and others who make a contribution towards the effective operation of the programme (e.g. library/technician staff). The committee has responsibilities for the quality of the programme. It provides input into the operation of the Review and Enhancement Process and proposes changes to improve quality. The programme committee plays a critical role in the University's quality assurance procedures.
The role of external examiners
The standard of this programme is monitored by at least one external examiner. External examiners have two primary responsibilities:
- To ensure the standard of the programme;
- To ensure that justice is done to individual students.
External examiners fulfil these responsibilities in a variety of ways including:
- Approving exam papers/assignments;
- Attending assessment boards;
- Reviewing samples of student work and moderating marks;
- Ensuring that regulations are followed;
- Providing feedback to the University through an annual report that enables us to make improvements for the future.
Listening to the views of students
The following methods for gaining student feedback are used on this programme:
- Module/programme evaluations
- Polls and surveys online
- Student representation on programme committees
Students are notified of the action taken through:
- Individual responses to students as required
- Postings on our online discussion forums
Listening to the views of others
The following methods are used for gaining the views of other interested parties:
- Annual student satisfaction questionnaire
- Questionnaires to former students
- Direct liaison with professional bodies; it is intended to formalise links with such bodies by introducing a professional liaison committee
Further Information
Alternative locations for studying this programme
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Where you can find further information
Further information about this programme is available from:
- The UEL web site: http://www.uel.ac.uk
- The RDI Website: http://www.rdi.co.uk
- The Student Handbook
- The module Study Guide
- Link for UEL's Assessment Policy: http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/AssessmentPolicy.htm
- The Academic Integrity Policy: http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/manual/index.htm
- UEL Manual of General Regulations: http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/
- UEL Quality Manual: http://www.uel.ac.uk/qa/
- Regulations for the Academic Framework: http://www.uel.ac.uk/academicframework
- The school of Psychology website: http://www.uel.ac.uk/psychology/index.htm
- The graduate school website: http://www.uel.ac.uk/gradschool/index.htm
- The School of Distance and E-Learning website: http://www.uel.ac.uk/sdel/index.htm
- Current External examiners
- External examiner reports (available from UEL virtual learning environment (UELPlus or Moodle))
