PPD Personal and Professional Development course timetable

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 pensions, financial advice and planning, tax and legal issues, as well as the emotional and practical issues accompanying retirement. You will have the opportunity to share information and discuss any concerns about retirement in a relaxed setting

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.

A workshop to enable you to practice and learn relaxation techniques to help release stress and improve wellbeing. It will provide an opportunity for people to relax and take time for themselves. The workshop will include deep breathing techniques, progressive muscle relaxation and a short mindfulness exercise. It will also allow time to consider what stress is and the impact this has on our lives.

Minute taking is not about speed writing but about recognising what is important and understanding the needs of the meeting participants. This course will show you how to compile concise meeting notes.

The course is for anyone who is required to take factual records of departmental/faculty meetings and distribute action points afterwards. It does not cover the additional skills required to take minutes at University committee meetings.

Would you like to increase your confidence in meeting and working with disabled people? This participative course will help you to learn the best ways to offer and give assistance. Through discussion and group work you will explore the barriers faced by disabled people when accessing services and learn how to make your services as accessible as possible. This course is aimed at people working in a frontline role.

This course is aimed to increase your understanding of the issues surrounding disclosures of sexual assault and harassment of students, the support available locally and the new University Harassment and Sexual Misconduct Procedures.

To book please follow this link. Please note that you must meet the eligibility criteria for the session.

What do supervisions contribute to student learning at Cambridge? This session will provide an interactive introduction to supervising, including aims and objectives of supervisions, different approaches to supervisions, the roles and responsibilities of the supervisor and ways of dealing with common problems. Given the breadth of supervisions, this course is not subject specific.

Is English not your first language?

Would you like to incorporate Standard English pronunciation into your everyday speech?

This course will look at the differences and similarities between your natural accent and that of Standard English. It will help to maintain positive aspects of your natural accent whilst enabling you to be easily understood by native English speakers.

If you dread giving presentations or simply want to hone your skills, this workshop gives you an opportunity to ‘step up to the podium,’ and receive constructive feedback and coaching to be a better public speaker. Whatever your specific speaking goal might be - delivering a presentation to colleagues, chairing or engaging in a meeting, giving a toast or tribute, or responding confidently in a Q&A period – the supportive environment of this workshop will help you play to your strengths, face your fears and give you tools to overcome them.

You may find it useful to have completed the Presentation Skills online learning module before attending the session.

Would you like to learn exercises that will reduce vocal strain, improve vocal range, variety, clarity and pronunciation to 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 to 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 to 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.

A short course covering a manager’s role in promoting a reduced stress environment in the workplace and evaluating stress risks for employees. It will also look at how to manage specific cases of stress using the Health and Safety Executive’s management standards.

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.

This programme offers an introduction to management skills and is externally accredited by the Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM). 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 course is primarily aimed at those who currently have management responsibilities for others (including managers, team leaders or supervisors) or equivalent responsibilities (e.g. for managing services, projects, resources). All participants must have the opportunity to meet the assessment requirements which are specified by the ILM – please see further details below

Please note that there is currently a waiting list for this programme. If you are interested in attending please complete the application form at the link below and send a signed paper copy to PPD. Your application will be considered and your name will be added to the waiting list if you are eligible. When a place becomes available we will contact you to confirm your place

Level 3 Award in First Line Management Application Form - your application to attend the programme will not be considered until it has been approved by you line manager - please ensure that you enter their email address correctly into the form.

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.

Engage in Learning is a theory and practice informed supervisor development programme on how to build supportive learning relationships. It is aimed at supervisors of Cambridge students with a minimum of three to five years’ experience of teaching in higher education.

Participants will explore approaches and challenges to building supportive supervisory relationships through dialogical learning activities — small group discussions, reflection exercises based on experiences, film clips, case studies and dilemmas drawn from practice. Readings will be provided prior to each workshop. The programme will emphasise building on participants’ own experiences. Between each workshop participants will be asked to observe and keep a written log of specific experiences of supervision; these will be discussed in the subsequent workshop.

Workshops (key topics covered)
A maximum of 12 participants will attend four two-hour-long workshops. Each workshop will be held between 16:30 to 18:30.


25 January 2018
Workshop 1 (Principles 1 & 2)
Relationships for learning: theory, context. Building supportive relationships

• Attachment theory
• Mindfulness
• Institutional identity
• Communication

22 February 2018
Workshop 2 (Principles 1, 2 & 3)
Empowering and facilitation growth

• Growth mindset
• Relational power
• Transformational learning
• Self-efficacy

***22 March 2018*** - NOW RUNNING ON 28 MARCH 2018
Workshop 3 (Principles 1, 2, 3 & 4)
Maintaining a supportive relationship

• Boundaries
• Balance
• Dialogical reflection

19 April 2018
Workshop 4
Engaging in learning together

• Synthesis of themes and topics

Prior to registration please make sure that you are available on each of those days.

All workshops will be held at the Cambridge Centre for Teaching and Learning, 25 Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1QA. The map gives directions to PPD, where the Cambridge Centre for Teaching and Learning is located.

This course prepares you to search and apply for your next job opportunity. You will learn: where to look for suitable job opportunities, how to write clear and concise CV’s and produce Job Applications that highlight your key skills and experience.

This course is highly participative and offers you the opportunity to share and learn from your own and other's experiences.

This course will review and explain the process of getting a diagnosis of a specific learning difficulty (SpLD) from the first observation of a difficulty to the point at which support is in place. It will focus on dyslexia the areas of difficulty experienced by students with such diagnoses and how proposed adjustments are helpful. Factors to consider when recommending a student for an assessment will also be discussed.

The course is a useful precursor to either Teaching Students with Specific Learning Difficulties (Briefing) or Specific Learning Difficulties: What Administrators Need to Know (Briefing).

As a manager, handling relationships is one of your key skills. An ability to think, speak and act assertively in these relationships will enhance your reputation and success. If you want to motivate staff, earn their loyalty and enable them to achieve the best possible results, then this course is for you. It will also deal with the challenges of managing your own manager assertively.

The University has a statutory duty to have ‘due regard to prevent people from being drawn into terrorism’. This is known as the Prevent Duty (Section 26 of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015). It is primarily about safeguarding students and staff in the University and includes a range of responsibilities in areas such as pastoral care, support for staff and students, procedures for arranging events and using facilities. All staff need to be aware of the process of radicalisation, definitions of extremism and the process for raising concerns in this context

This short session provides information about Prevent for all staff working in in the University. It includes input and examples to consider and combines the content in Module 1 – An introduction to the Prevent Duty: Online and the University Prevent website

You can access these as an alternative to attending this session

Full details of available training and support are on the Prevent Training Moodle site using your Raven login

If you would like to refine your presentation skills, or address insecurities about any aspect of your speaking, these sessions are aimed at identifying the areas you need to focus on, be it at the micro level (elocution), the macro level (shaping an interesting presentation), or any point in between. During this one to one session, coaching will provide you with active practice, honest and constructive feedback, and practical tips to make you a more confident and effective communicator. Put yourself under the microscope, and you’ll be ready to step into the spotlight.

You may find it useful to have completed the Presentation Skills online learning module before attending the session.

It is possible to use this booking page to book one follow-up session for additional support. The course trainer will advise when this may be helpful. Please only book one session at a time.

If you would like to refine your presentation skills, or address insecurities about any aspect of your speaking, these sessions are aimed at identifying the areas you need to focus on, be it at the micro level (elocution), the macro level (shaping an interesting presentation), or any point in between. During this one to one session, coaching will provide you with active practice, honest and constructive feedback, and practical tips to make you a more confident and effective communicator. Put yourself under the microscope, and you’ll be ready to step into the spotlight.

You may find it useful to have completed the Presentation Skills online learning module before attending the session.

It is possible to use this booking page to book one follow-up session for additional support. The course trainer will advise when this may be helpful. Please only book one session at a time.

If you would like to refine your presentation skills, or address insecurities about any aspect of your speaking, these sessions are aimed at identifying the areas you need to focus on, be it at the micro level (elocution), the macro level (shaping an interesting presentation), or any point in between. During this one to one session, coaching will provide you with active practice, honest and constructive feedback, and practical tips to make you a more confident and effective communicator. Put yourself under the microscope, and you’ll be ready to step into the spotlight.

You may find it useful to have completed the Presentation Skills online learning module before attending the session.

It is possible to use this booking page to book one follow-up session for additional support. The course trainer will advise when this may be helpful. Please only book one session at a time.

If you would like to refine your presentation skills, or address insecurities about any aspect of your speaking, these sessions are aimed at identifying the areas you need to focus on, be it at the micro level (elocution), the macro level (shaping an interesting presentation), or any point in between. During this one to one session, coaching will provide you with active practice, honest and constructive feedback, and practical tips to make you a more confident and effective communicator. Put yourself under the microscope, and you’ll be ready to step into the spotlight.

You may find it useful to have completed the Presentation Skills online learning module before attending the session.

It is possible to use this booking page to book one follow-up session for additional support. The course trainer will advise when this may be helpful. Please only book one session at a time.

If you would like to refine your presentation skills, or address insecurities about any aspect of your speaking, these sessions are aimed at identifying the areas you need to focus on, be it at the micro level (elocution), the macro level (shaping an interesting presentation), or any point in between. During this one to one session, coaching will provide you with active practice, honest and constructive feedback, and practical tips to make you a more confident and effective communicator. Put yourself under the microscope, and you’ll be ready to step into the spotlight.

You may find it useful to have completed the Presentation Skills online learning module before attending the session.

It is possible to use this booking page to book one follow-up session for additional support. The course trainer will advise when this may be helpful. Please only book one session at a time.

If you would like to refine your presentation skills, or address insecurities about any aspect of your speaking, these sessions are aimed at identifying the areas you need to focus on, be it at the micro level (elocution), the macro level (shaping an interesting presentation), or any point in between. During this one to one session, coaching will provide you with active practice, honest and constructive feedback, and practical tips to make you a more confident and effective communicator. Put yourself under the microscope, and you’ll be ready to step into the spotlight.

You may find it useful to have completed the Presentation Skills online learning module before attending the session.

It is possible to use this booking page to book one follow-up session for additional support. The course trainer will advise when this may be helpful. Please only book one session at a time.