Personal and Professional Development

“Personal and Professional Development (PPD)” is a sequence of units (PPD A, B and C) which run through the 3 years of the Optometry degree course. The “personal” development is based on transferable skills which support the academic curriculum (such as time-management, team working, effective communication, giving and receiving feedback, and problem solving), enhance your CV and increase employability. “Professional” development is based on an understanding of the history and practice of the profession of optometry in the UK and worldwide. These will combine to give you the opportunity to become a well-developed practitioner with excellent communication skills who delivers exemplary patient care and is sought after by the best employers. Bridging and linking these themes is a “medical ethics” thread which discusses issues which are particularly relevant to optometry students and optometric practice.

The Unit Coordinator for each of the PPD units is Chris Dickinson, but most of your learning will take place online via Blackboard, or in your PPD group guided by your Academic Tutor.

You are required to attend all scheduled PPD meetings, participate fully in all the timetabled and online activities, and submit the regular tasks and assignments on schedule.

Work submitted for the PPD units are assessed. You must obtain a pass mark for each piece of this submitted work to be able to pass your examinations in year 1 and year 2. If you obtain a mark of <40% for your PPD work, OR if your attendance is unsatisfactory, you will fail the PPD unit and will be required to re-write and pass the failed PPD assessment.

Assessments associated with Clinical Methodology units (BIOL12051 in Year 1 and BIOL22051 and BIOL22062 in Year 2) and Critical Writing Skills (BIOL21701 in Year 2) are monitored for the work elements of the Work and Attendance Regulations (see Section Work and attendance regulations) and are also part of the PPD assessment. Failure to complete these assessments satisfactorily will result in failure of the PPD unit, and you will be required to complete PPD referral work over the summer vacation.

The compensation rules for examinations (see Section Pass marks and compensation ) will only be applied if you pass the personal and professional development assessments AND fulfill the attendance requirement for PPD units.