Individual Learner Profile – Part two

During part one you will have been building up your knowledge about your chosen subject and developing a whole set of academic and generic transferable skills.Now, at the beginning of part two, it is time to reflect and build on your achievements at part one, to consider what you can achieve this year and in the future. This questionnaire is designed to help you put those thoughts into action, and consider how you can develop and enhance your skills to achieve your academic and personal ambitions.

The questionnaire is not a test; there are no right and wrong answers. When your questionnaire has been completed, you are strongly encouraged to take it to your personal tutorial meetings. Your tutor will be available to help you review your reflections and goals, and possibly suggest strategies that will help you enhance and develop your skills. To gain the most from this exercise, answer the questions below as honestly as possible. Then arrange to discuss any action points with your tutor. It is your responsibility to initiate this discussion. Don’t forget that you should see your tutor at least once per term.

This is a working document that will form a key element in your Personal and Academic Record. The aim of your PAR is to help you with your own personal development planning and your learning development. It may then become useful again as a basis for some reflection when you begin thinking about your future plans after university.

If you have any concerns about completing this profile please contact your Personal Tutor. If you need it in larger print, or a different format, please contact 0118 378 7148

Surname/family name
First/given name
Personal tutor
Programme title
Reflecting on part one
What were your main achievements at part one? These can be academic or extra-curricular.
How satisfied are you with your part one results?
Very satisfied  Satisfied Reasonably satisfied  Not at all satisfied 
What feedback have you received and was this useful to you?
Are there any areas in which you did you not perform as well as you expected or would have liked?
If so, why do you think this is?
Looking back, what might you have done differently?
Reflecting on part one continued
Which of your transferable skills still need to be improved? / Visit the SOAR website for a list of transferable skills
What actions can you take to bring about these improvements?
Thinking ahead to the future – items to discuss with your personal tutor
What do you want to achieve this year? Think about your academic work, your personal life, and your extra-curricular activities.
You might also want to think about what degree classification you are aiming for.
What do you think you’ll need to do to make these achievements?
Thinking about your future
What would you like to do at the end of your degree (finding a graduate job, taking up further study, traveling or something else)?
What, if any, career ideas have you considered? If you are already employed, do you have any goals for further professional development?
What steps have you taken to find out more about your career choices (or further study)? / You might find it useful to look at the Destinations website
For students undertaking a year out only ie a placement or a year abroad
What type of placement options have you considered?
What have you found out about the opportunities available?
What is your rationale for taking up a placement? You might want to consider academic development and employment prospects.
Action points – list your action points below. There are some suggested that you may wish to consider.
Action point / When?
Target date / Evidence of achievement or further action needed
Discuss reflections, goals and plans with personal tutor
Research career/further study options
Find out more about Reading’s student support services, including
Careers
Many employers’ value skills which are often referred to as transferable, soft or generic skills. It is a good idea to start thinking about these skills now so that you can think about how you could demonstrate which skills you have. You should also start to think about how you evidence your skills so thinking about examples of when and how you have used such skills will be a great place to start. What are your strengths and in what areas do you need to improve?
General skills valued by employers: / Example/s / Which areas of SOAR do these link to?
Flexibility, adaptability to cope with, and manage change. / Adapt to new working practices.
Cope with changing priorities. / Interpersonal
Problem-solving
Self motivation / Complete task, even under pressure from conflicting interests.
Maintaining a stake in successful completion of task/work. / Self Management
Analytical skills / Recognise context and key features of task.
Identify strategic options and choose appropriate course of action. / Learning
Ability to communicate at all levels / Express yourself clearly on paper.
Make presentations to directors or management groups.
Liaise with other team members. / Communication
Capacity to work as an effective team member / Contribute to group discussions/working.
Work collaboratively. / Interpersonal
Good time management / Prioritise time and tasks
Maintain a good work/non-work life balance. / Self Management
Willingness to take responsibility / Accountable for own actions.
Analyse own development needs and seek solutions. / Self Management

Visit the employability profiles page of the Destinations website which has links to national employability profiles researched by the Higher Education Academy. The profiles are listed by subject area.

This document is adapted with kind permission from Carolyne Jacobs and the University of Portsmouth.