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Competency-based training & development

Your DDP Training Needs Analysis (TNA) and Evidencing Development Summary (DDP summary) require you to demonstrate your learning and development against eight core competencies. By engaging with appropriate training and development, you will gain and enhance the skills needed to successfully complete your research project, and to demonstrate these competencies.

However, you don't need to sign up to lots of optional academic modules or complete formal training, unless these specifically add value to your research project or skillset. There are many ways you can meet the competencies just by engaging in your studies and PGR life on campus. Moreover, training and development should be individualised to every student - there is not one correct way to 'do' your DDP.

Below are some ideas for demonstrating each of the core competencies. We'd also recommend that you explore the  and the for further information and links to relevant courses.

1. Communication, networking and collaboration

• Attending facilitated events such as workshops, courses and conferences
• Attending networking events, seminars or journal clubs in your School, Faculty, or beyond
• Attending PGR committees or societies via your
• Establishing and maintaining research collaborations with other students, academics or external partners
• Participating in one of the University's
• Joining a learned society or organisation relating to your research  
• Writing for blogs or other non-academic media
• Developing a professional social media presence  
• If you're funded by a DTP or CDT, engaging with with your peers and networking programmes

2. Personal skills â€“ Time management, resilience, problem-solving, critical thinking

• Planning and managing your research project to submit within your tuition-fee paying period
• Self-reflection and ongoing engagement with your personal and professional development
• Responding to unexpected results or challenges in your research and mitigating/adapting your project
• Attending relevant sessions
• Completing courses on

3. Professional skills – Academic defence, academic writing, project/resource management

• Writing a research proposal
• Attending relevant workshops
• Participating in a writing retreat
• Presenting a poster or paper
• Applying for research funding
• Engaging with the
• Engaging with

4. Leadership

• Taking up mentoring opportunities - for example mentoring a new PGR through
• Being a School PGR rep
• Running for committee roles through your Student's Union
• Becoming a UCU rep
• Undertaking voluntary work in your spare time
• Supporting less experienced researchers in your group
• Setting up a reading group for your research area/ cluster

5. Ownership and understanding of the scope for career development options

• Becoming a Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) and/or developing teaching skills with
• Teaching your research in local schools with
• Work-shadowing
• Undertaking a placement in the public, private or third sector
• Engaging with the
• Attending relevant events such as CV writing workshops, careers fairs, or alumni panels 

6. Understanding the importance of impact and translation, public engagement, enterprise and IP

• Undertaking an industry placement
• Collaborating with policymakers
• Collaborating with colleagues in the public, private or third sector
• Undertaking outreach or public engagement activities
• Developing a spin-out company or product
• Writing for blogs or other non-academic media e.g.
• Exploring the University's

7. Responsible research and innovation, ethics and data management

• Completing your Faculty research ethics & integrity training
• Submitting an ethics application for your research project
• Writing a data management plan for your research project
• Attending a on data management or Open Research
• Applying your learning to your research 

8. Qualitative skills and/or quantitative and digital skills depending on discipline

• Attending optional academic modules - you can enrol on these via the
• Completing a course
• Undertake technical, methodology or other research skills training offered by your School
• Engage with informal training from your supervisor or others in your lab/research group
• Utilise online materials or courses to upskill yourself on software,
• Sign up for foreign language training via the MLTC
• If you're funded by a DTP or CDT, engaging with any specific training offered