Progress Files are intended to be a means by which ‘students can monitor, build and reflect upon their personal development' (National Committee of Inquiry in Higher Education; 1997 - Dearing Report). Progress Files in Higher Education include three elements:

1. a transcript recording student learning and achievement (both during and at the end of a programme of study) provided by the University (which should follow a common format devised by institutions collectively through their representative bodies);
2. an individual's personal records of learning and achievements, progress reviews and plans that are used to clarify personal goals and can provide a resource from which material is selected to produce personal statements (e.g. CVs etc) for employers, admissions tutors and others;
3. structured and supported processes to develop the capacity of individuals to reflect upon their own learning and achievement, and to plan for their own personal educational and career development. The term Personal Development Planning (PDP) is used to denote this process.

MyPlace has been designed to assist the University in meeting this agenda. MyPlace provides an environment in which students can review and reflect on their learning and preparation for future study and employment. MyPlace is provided alongside LUVLE to provide a flexible means of supporting students in their learning and personal growth. Students can be prompted to engage with reflective activities through MyPlace and in due course will also be able to access data on their assessment marks (transcript) from the different modules in their programme of study. The default set up of MyPlace includes a minimum set of prompts linked to the Careers Timeline. Other prompts can be added to align with the specific requirements of individual academic programmes.

Benefits

The process of reflecting on one's own learning (from a degree programme, from employment and wider life experience) and drawing on these reflections to set oneself personal goals and make plans for further study and.or future employment is has been identified by students & tutors, employees & employers, as beneficial for a number of reasons, as the process:

1. encourages students to play a more active role in their own learning process, help them identify their own strengths and weaknesses, and increase their awareness of the skills and learning techniques to be gained during their period of study 
2. helps students to take a wider perspective on what they can gain from their whole university experience, as well as previous and concurrent employment and wider life experiences, and so contributes to personal growth (see Lancaster LTA Policy 2006)
3. puts a greater emphasis on students taking a personal responsibility for their own development which in turn can be linked to professional development practices in the workplace and enables students to capitalise on study related opportunities eg. years abroad, placements, work experience etc.
4. helps students become more effective learners, enhances student participation,  and can can help students get better grades (see research published by CRA)
5. provides students with the evidence they will need to demonstrate the skills they have gained to prospective employers; increases a student's belief in their employability and the ability to gain graduate level employment,
6. evidence that it can improve graduate employment rates will have an impact on your department's ability to attract good applicants in the future