Skip to navigation | Skip to main content | Skip to footer
Menu
Search the University of Manchester siteSearch Menu StaffNet

Professional Development Network Conference

04 Oct 2010

On Thursday 18 November from 10am - 2pm

 

The network is in its fourth year and is co-ordinated by the Staff Training and Development Unit. If you are interested in joining or hearing more about the network, you are invited to our annual ‘Professional Development Network’ event on Thursday 18 November from 10am until 2pm at Chancellors Conference Centre (lunch is provided).

Places must be booked online at:

Open to all staff at the University, this peer support network consists of a number of small groups who meet regularly to discuss issues and agree appropriate actions with which to address them.

This method of peer support and learning gives individuals the opportunity to:

  • Focus on real work-based issues;
  • Reflect with peers and find workable solutions together;
  • Try out new approaches and methods;
  • Report back on the impact of actions taken.

At this event you will have an opportunity to:

  • Hear more about how the network operates;
  • Meet current network members;
  • Learn about ‘Action Learning ‘ principles;
  • Join the network.

 

-----

Some of the feedback we have received from network members:

"As a University employee working for a small external organization, I have found the PDN invaluable for establishing contacts and for keeping up-to-date with what is happening at the university. Involvement in an Action Learning Set has also helped me to sound out ideas and obtain objective feedback, and has provided interesting colleagues to have coffee and lunch with!"

"My group helped to make me feel more confident about my skills and abilities by being able to show me that what I see as day-to-day usual tasks / experiences could be really useful in other areas of the University and that I have a lot to give. They have also given me the confidence to apply for jobs that I previously wasn\'t convinced I was capable of. In the three years since I have been a member of the Network I have risen from a grade 5 to a grade 7."

"I found that being a member of the group encouraged me to rethink my approach to the issues I had and this was good as it forced me out of the thinking cycle I was in and enabled me to move forward."

"I am incredibly grateful for the professional and thoughtful support I have received from my Action Learning Set over the past 3½ years. We have helped each other through restructuring, ERVS (twice), death, promotion and non-stop change (in other words, life). Members have been added and lost, but the tone of the group has always been unselfish and respectful environment – thank you."