PPD Personal and Professional Development course timetable

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.

In the workplace there will be occasions when people feel that they have been bullied, harassed or subjected to inappropriate behaviour. This is a practical and important interactive session which is designed to provide clarity and guidance on the University’s Dignity at Work policy and procedures. It will explain the legal framework, and will clarify options and practical measures open to you to help you address Dignity at Work problems if they arise.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is the most widely used personality instrument worldwide, based on over 50 years’ research and development.

It presents a framework for understanding how you operate, how others operate, and how you can use that understanding to get more from yourself and the relationships you have with others.

This workshop is led by a qualified MBTI practitioner and will involve taking the MBTI questionnaire, investigating the four areas of preference covered by MBTI, self-assessment of type with group exercises, looking at your best fit type and investigating how it could help you at work.

Learning about your personality type can help you to understand your role within your team and the role of others. It can also help you to cope with organisational change, deal with stress effectively and develop your emotional intelligence.

Have you ever found yourself in the middle of a conflict wondering how you got into it and how to get out? This course sets out to identify and examine the causes of conflict and to offer a range of practical techniques for resolving disputes. Skilled negotiation is often crucial and this course introduces a proven approach that is used widely by professional mediators and negotiators. You will have the opportunity to explore and practice key ideas using presentation, self assessment, role play and discussion in a friendly and informal group setting.

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.

Each year, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) make extensive changes to the Immigration Rules which can often impact significantly upon the recruitment of staff from outside the EU. The greatest changes commonly take place in April of each year, however UKVI often give us very short notice of these changes. This is a short course which is designed to inform and promote discussion of the relevant changes that have occurred and how they will affect departments/institutions within the University.

Please note: As we do not know at this time how broad the changes will be, this course may be longer or shorter than advertised.

This course focuses on the practical element of delivery. It will provide you with the opportunity to explore techniques for connecting emotionally and intellectually with an audience, along with overcoming nerves. You will look at how to handle questions effectively and practise vocal techniques.

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.

This participative workshop will enable attendees to confidentially discuss their reactions to students in emotional distress and consider effective ways of supporting them while managing attendees own boundaries. The session will be conducted in a relaxed and open way and will result in those attending feeling more confident in these interactions. The workshop will also update attendees on available sources of local support for students.

Springboard is a personal development programme for all women staff/graduate students. It will give you the opportunity to take stock and consider your personal and professional goals. During the programme you will explore your future in a practical way and learn how to develop your potential. You will undertake realistic self-assessment and set challenging goals. Key areas covered include communication skills, assertiveness, self confidence, improving your work/life balance and developing positive skills and attitude. If you want to progress and develop, then this programme is for you.

The programme comprises four days over a three-month period and a workbook to be completed between sessions.

Effective administration transforms organisations. Through this Seminar Series we will explore the experiences of specialists from both inside and outside the University. They bring with them expertise of senior leadership, ground breaking research and innovative models of transforming organisations.

Dr Kenton Lewis is an independent consultant. Prior to this, he worked for 20 years in higher education administration, management, leadership and governance. He is a Trustee (non-executive) and Fellow of the AUA, a founding member and Trustee (executive) of The Bridge Group (a social mobility policy association), a Fellow of the CMI, a Principal Fellow of the HEA, and a Fellow of the RSA.

Current issues in managing the University Estate.

Critical information with statutory significance for HOIs.

Who, what and how much — pathways through the finance committees.

Update on current legislative practices.

How inclusion fosters increased innovation and global impact.

The briefing will include topics about:

• Costing & Pricing
• New Sponsor Terms and Conditions
• Pitfalls to avoid

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.

The last two years before retirement are a good time to prepare for personal change in readiness for leaving employment. This programme will include detailed information on occupational and state pensions, financial advice and planning, tax and legal issues, as well as the emotional issues accompanying retirement. You will have the opportunity to share information and discuss any concerns about retirement in a relaxed setting.

Managing and leading projects is a key skill, and yet it is often poorly understood and actioned; leading to projects that overrun, overspend or overwork the delivery teams.

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 a complete toolkit of project management skills (distilled from a number of sound project management “methodologies”) and an overview of various project planning techniques. It has been developed to help you focus on a project you are actively involved in (or one that is about to commence). You will apply a number of tools to real life situations and leave with a clear understanding of the major management issues and the basis of a clear and workable project plan.

The face to face workshop provides an opportunity to build on the learning from the online module. Working with others you will identify options and strategies to help move your project forward and consider solutions to problems you may have encountered.

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.