Eight Hours of Professional Development Activities

The University of Alberta Professional Development (PD) Requirement has two components that must be submitted to your graduate coordinator or graduate chair before convocation:

  1. An individualized career plan document called an Individual Development Plan (IDP)
  2. The completion of eight hours of PD activities inspired by the career plan

As you complete the self-assessment in the IDP package, you should be able to identify your career or life goals. You are encouraged to pursue PD activities that align with your individual career interests and develop skills not included in your programs to fulfil the eight-hour requirement.

The PD activities, which should be approved by your department, must be completed within the first three years of study for most doctoral students and by the time of degree completion for master's students. Consult with your department regarding which tracking and completion forms are required.

How to Choose Your PD Activities

What PD Activities Count

PD activities can take place on or off campus, and may include training you participate in through your professional work/employment role. A PD activity fulfils the U of A PD Requirement if it contributes to the acquisition of skills, knowledge or mindset and includes all of these three components:

  • The PD activity must consist of formal training and include active learning, with an assessment component (self-assessment, reflection, quiz, write-pair-share or evidence of knowledge application). Learning activities under the tutelage of Indigenous elders fall under this component where students may provide a self-assessment, application of knowledge, reflection or practice that aligns with the learning of Indigenous knowledge.
  • The activity must fall outside of research methods training, capstone project, thesis or equivalent and required practicum. Practicums and internships that have assessment, reflection and feedback components can be applied toward the PD requirement (e.g., GSIP).
  • The activity must support the career goals and/or seven skills and competencies identified in the IDP.

University Sanctioned Committees

As a pilot, graduate students who are members of university-sanctioned committees/boards (e.g., Graduate Students' Association, CTL Advisory Committee, Department Council) can apply to have two hours of PD credit for training achieved through their work experience. Students will need to identify learning outcomes and how they were achieved during their experience. After students submit their form for approval by the committee chair/supervisor, a two-hour PD credit will appear in campusBRIDGE.

Tracking

There are several ways to show that you have attended PD sessions. Departments will determine what they consider acceptable evidence. Options include:

  1. Attendance record in campusBRIDGE (Guide to campusBRIDGE: Registration and Proof of Attendance)
  2. Signed Declaration of Attendance: The presenter/host of the session/workshop also signs the form to verify attendance. These are used when no other record or proof of completion is available.
  3. Certificate of participation or completion
  4. Departments may choose to develop and use a PD record book. Attendance can be verified by having session presenters sign the document.

To help keep track of your PD hours, you may want to use a Record of Activities

Additional Resources

activities That do NOT fulfil the requirement

  • Sessions used towards the Ethics and Academic Integrity requirement
  • Information sessions to highlight resources or programs
  • Teaching Assistantships, Research Assistantships, Lab Meetings, Presenting a talk or poster
  • Serving as a mentor