Embedding personal development planning into the social sciences

This article addresses a number of the theoretical and practical issues raised by using personal development planning (PDP) to enhance employability. It briefly discusses the background, rationale and evidence for PDP. It also considers the problems associated with policy implementation: the practicalities of embedding personal development planning into programmes of study, and the problems of curriculum fragmentation, student attitudes and integration with student services. This discussion is followed by the description and evaluation of an innovative third-year social science module designed to tackle these challenges. Finally, the authors provide some recommendations for the further development of PDP in higher education.