What are Progress Files?
Student progress files arose from a recommendation of the Dearing Report which stated that: [Progress Files] 'should consist of two elements; a transcript recording students' achievement which should follow a common format devised by institutions collectively through their representative bodies; a means by which students can monitor, build and reflect upon their personal development' (National Committee of Inquiry in Higher Education; 1997).
What does this mean for the University?
This recommendation was then developed by UUK, SCOP, QAA, and the LTSN Subject Centres and Generic Centre (now the HE Academy), into a policy for UK Higher Education Institutions. The result was the QAA document Guidelines for HE Progress Files. Implementation of progress files means we will provide each student with a transcript* and a means by which the student can undertake Personal Development Planning (PDP) . All Universities in the UK were expected to have their own policies in place by 2005/06 and, in the last two to three years, the concept of a progress file has gradually been absorbed by larger discussions about PDP and recording student achievement more generally.
What is the University doing?
The Skills and Progress File Working Group (SPFWG) was established as a working group of the Learning & Teaching Group in March 2003. Its remit was to investigate the provision of Progress Files in the sector and to make recommendations to the former Learning & Teaching Group on the most appropriate way for the University to offer its students the opportunity to complete progress files. The report from the SPFWG pilot project run in the 2004/2005 academic year was presented to Senate.
The SPFWG was superseded in 2007 by the Skills Group, a smaller working party representing academic staff and a variety of the Support Services. The Group reports directly on all student skills development and personal development planning (PDP) issues to Education Committee.
Terms of reference, meeting minutes and reports of seminars attended by members of the Skills and Progress Files Working Group are still available.