A progress report on progress files

Abstract

In order to facilitate personal development planning (PDP), the UK higher education sector is committed to introducing progress files. This article explores the experience of one institution in seeking to establish a system of progress files. It identifies the main practical problems in doing this, highlighting the lack of agreement on the skills that higher education students are expected to acquire and focuses on resourcing and strategic decision-making as keys to success. Effective implementation of progress files is seen as enhancing the learning experience of students. However, some concerns are expressed on whether this will be achieved across the whole of the UK higher education sector.