Understanding, analysing and reflecting on your development needs ensures that you undertake activities and opportunities that most benefit your own objectives and aspirations, whether for your PhD journey, future career, or personal development. This means a high quality, not quantity of training and development pursued.
The SWDTP has developed a log to facilitate SWDTP students in engaging with Development Needs Analysis (DNA), a required component of ESRC PhD studentships. The tools that make up this log were developed with input and feedback from PhD students and colleagues from across our Partnership. We are pleased to make an adapted version of this log publicly available.
These tools will help with:
- Setting actionable objectives
- Identifying opportunities that meet your goals
- Different types of reflection activities
- Facilitating training and development discussions with supervisors, counsellors, and mentors.
Engaging with DNA is compulsory for some SWDTP-funded students
SWDTP-funded students whose funded period commenced from Sept 2024 onwards are required to engage with DNA as a condition of their funding.
SWDTP-funded students whose funded period commenced before Sept 2024 onwards are required to engage with TNA as a condition of their funding.
The full guidance documents can be found below.
Supporting students’ development
Read our best practices for academic colleagues supporting student’s development.