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Individual development planning is often used in organizations and private industry to help employees articulate and accomplish work-related goals. Nationally, many academic and professional organizations and institutions have begun using Individual Development Plans (IDPs) to promote a process of self-reflection, assessment, and goal-setting for graduate students and
postdocs. The National Institutes of Health consider IDPs so valuable for student training and career development that NIH has now established reporting requirements around IDPs for funded graduate students and postdocs. For graduate students and postdocs, an IDP is a dynamic self-evaluation and career exploration tool that can be used for setting goals for research projects, skills development, and career planning. It is your private written list of objectives mapped to a
timeline. Although the IDP is authored, reviewed, and revised by you, it can also serve as a framework for discussion between you and your faculty advisors. The IDP is most valuable when you work with your mentors to make full use of its potential as a research agenda and career development tool, and when you update it annually (or more often) to reflect accomplishments and changes in your career and research objectives. Tools to Assist in Individual Development Planning
Berkeley and the IDPAt Berkeley, several offices and programs already promote the use of IDPs. Drawing on these experiences, a UC Berkeley IDP Working Group has produced recommended practices for those who must comply with the NIH mandate, as well as for all others who want to use the power of planning that an IDP makes possible. Review the Berkeley IDP Recommended Practices (PDF). An Individual Development Plan (IDP) is a goal-setting tool to assist graduate students (as well as scholars and professionals of all stages) to meet short- and long-term career goals. Graduate students should use an IDP to: reflect on career goals, make actionable plans to achieve those goals, and track progress in academic performance and professional development. It is expected that all graduate students will utilize an IDP throughout their graduate experience. The MU Graduate School’s IDP is aligned with our gradESSENTIALS professional development categories. These categories reflect key transferable skills useful for a broad spectrum of careers. Use the fillable IDP template below, or use the Word doc version if you need to make changes to the IDP to meet your needs. It is recommended that graduate students review their IDP at least annually with their faculty advisor/mentor. IDPs are not submitted to the Graduate School for review, but rather are used at the academic program level for students to track their individual progress and set goals. Create your IDP:Download Fillable IDPDownload Word Version IDPEventsCornell Resources to Help You Create Your PlanSelf-AssessmentsAll graduate students are encouraged to meet with a Cornell career advisor to take an assessment to understand their personality, interests, values, and career goals. Postdocs may discuss their interests, values, and career goals with Christine Holmes (), director of the Office of Postdoctoral Studies.
External ResourcesIndividual Development Plan (IDP)The IDP is an excellent tool for self-assessment and developing goals for yourself during your academic years and beyond. Although you can create your IDP by yourself, graduate students and postdocs often find that co-developing their IDP with their faculty mentor is a good way to ensure there is awareness and support of their career plans. IDPs for humanities and social science fields:
IDPs for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields:
Books, References
What are 3 most important professionalism traits in a graduate student?Ideal Graduate Characteristics. attention to detail.. ability to think for themselves.. dependability - reliable.. follow through – complete projects.. punctuality.. teamwork.. motivation - invested.. knowledge (of content). What are goals for graduate students?Graduate Learning Goals. Master the skills, methods and knowledge appropriate to the discipline.. Synthesize knowledge using interdisciplinary approaches.. Acquire the tools to continue professional development and life-long learning.. How do you write an individual development plan example?Development plan templates. Employee name:. Position, function, location and title:. Development focus area:. List professional goals and aspirations:. List strengths and talents:. List key development needs:. List development opportunities:. How do you make an IDP?5 Steps for Building Your IDP. Identify your top strengths. Your strengths are what distinguish you from others and help you achieve success in your role. ... . Capture your development opportunities. ... . Brainstorm your long-term career vision. ... . Set a shorter-term career plan. ... . Detail immediate growth areas.. |