This preliminary module offers the candidate the opportunity to reflect on the challenges presented by their programme of study, and to construct a personal and professional development plan facilitating the timely and successful completion of their professional doctorate. The aim of the module is to, at the outset, establish an individually customised development plan for each candidate addressing their specific learning priorities. Upon module competition, each candidate will have prioritised, and developed an enhancement plan addressing, the skills and academic and/or professional knowledge bases deemed most pertinent to the successful completion of their programme of study. This module offers the candidate the opportunity to consider the blend of personal commitment, professional experiences and academic insights necessary to achieve their stated personal and programme outcomes.

The candidate will actively engage with their primary supervisor, and together they will shape the scope, necessary content and direction of the personal and professional development plan. Reflective practice learning will be utilised. The module will build on the student engagement with a personal and professional development framework, the student will develop a formal personal and professional development profile and identify, plan for and progress key professional development goals. In this context the student will also consider the key challenges apparent in professional context, identify a key problem/s with which they will engage with and identify the skills that they require and the changes that re necessary to achieve resolution of identified challenges/s.

Upon successful completion of this module the candidate will be able to: - Determine personal and professional strengths and weaknesses as they apply to their course of study, and develop interventions to offset potential obstacles. - Appraise the demands of successfully completing a professional doctorate and will have identified strategies facilitating the integration of their doctoral, personal and professional lives and routines. - Assess key knowledge deficits, and implement continuing personal development initiatives to address these deficits. - Identify key personal time-management and organisational challenges, and construct practical interventions and strategies to ensure timely completion of the doctoral programme.

Upon successful completion of this module the candidate will be able to: - Appreciate and conceptualise the demands of the doctoral programme of study. - Appropriately, and insightfully, plan landmarks and timelines. - Appreciate the potential obstacles and constraints, implicit within doctoral studies, and will have considered remediating strategies to offset these obstacles. - Confidently customise the programme of study to their personal skillsets, experiences, and identified topics of interest, expansion and future ambition.

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In order to meet the learning outcomes of the modules/programme and to promote engagement with the UL graduate attributes a variety of teaching and learning and assessment methods and modes will be employed. This module will be delivered through e-learning modalities such as online lectures, discussion boards, webinars and linked questions and answers forums and one to one online supervision tutorials and discussion. The learning experience is primarily self-directed which is supported by digital/online interaction with the doctoral supervisors of the candidate. Problem based learning, written and oral presentation and reflective practice learning methodologies will also be utilised. The primary assessment modes for the module will be written and oral presentation and defence and the submission of a personal and professional development plan. The buddy system and full cohort group online interactive forums will be established so that candidates can share both personal and professional experience regarding the development and progression of their studies. The content of the taught components will underpin the module and reference to this content will be made and further developed as appropriate. The candidate will be expected to self-manage their own time and prioritise their activities in relation to planning and organising their progression. They will work autonomously, exercising initiative and personal responsibility for the achievement of the stated learning outcomes, however, as indicated significant support will be available and provided by the supervisory team The nature of teaching, learning and assessment is carefully considered so that it is appropriate to doctoral stage of the candidate, represents a progressive challenge and promotes engagement with and development of the UL graduate attributes. The development of the UL graduate attributes progress and extend across the programme. Creativity and innovation which enhances the professional environment is the central attribute targeted by the programme. The development of this attribute will be underpinned by the synthesis of relevant knowledge, the associated development of competencies and the parallel development of other attributes thus allowing for 1) the promotion of critical thinking (Knowledgeable), 2) the capacity to resolve complex "real world" challenges using a multi-disciplinary approach (Knowledgeable); 3) the ability to creatively translate knowledge to practice (Knowledgeable; Proactive; Creative); 4) the confidence to proactively engage in systematic enquiry and life-long learning and thus develop new innovations and implement positive change (Proactive; Creative); 5) a desire and ability to effectively share knowledge and competencies with others, acting both as an educator and collaborator (Articulate; Collaborative) and 6) the assumption of personal and professional responsibility and leadership roles thus being a net contributor to the advancement of their profession and of society (Responsible). Relevant and recent developments and research findings will at all stages be incorporated into the candidate learning experience. This will occur by default via the engagement with and critical evaluation of the extant literature. In addition, the relevant professional contexts, practices and experiences of the candidate and others who work in similar, related and different professional contexts will be integrated into the candidate learning experience. The engagement of an internal/external supervisor who has specialist knowledge in the innovation identified by the candidate will be targeted.