Where I intend to go...

So in addition to reflecting on how I got to this position I am also required to consider my future. To do this I have gone through my previous appraisals, I have usually met all of the PDP requirements although my MA has been ongoing, as has achieving the post graduate certificate in Learning and Teaching in HE. Previous requirements have been the Teaching Toolkit, my NVQ and training courses relevant to accreditation and sexual health and substance use as one of my projects focuses on sexual health and substance use.

Currently on my appraisal my line manager and I agreed that I should attend more conferences and focus more on the research/knowledge transfer side of my role. This is something I am not particularly confident with, I have ideas for research, especially relating to my job but research seems like something 'bigger' than I am prepared for. I have completed evaluation reports and obviously for my undergraduate dissertation I completed original research, although not for my MA, that is only theory based. I think the problem is, i'm not sure what I am meant to do. I attended a researchers meeting at UCLan and was assured new researchers would be welcomed, I found people there to be patronising and difficult with no one having any time to explain anything. One member of this particular research group was incredibly rude to me personally and about my research so I have not ventured back into peer 'support' until I am a little clearer about expectations. In my role, research seems to be the last priority most of the time, although my line manager is exceptionally supportive, something more urgent usually seems to get in the way of our discussions about research and on two appraisals now the research side has been 'ongoing' meaning we haven't got round to sorting it yet. Research and knowledge transfer is something I am really hoping to progress in. I hope my MA improves my research skills. In the future I am really hoping I get the opportunity to present at conferences and share what I have learnt through my projects.

My future plan definitely includes more teaching, I would like to lead on more modules and support our third years through their dissertations. I have ideas for course development but recognise in this economic climate we are unlikely to be developing new courses for some time. I enjoy taking a pastoral role and would like to have some responsibility for retention as I am good at advising students. The future, although a little uncertain, looks exciting and full of possibility.