Performance Development Review (PDR)

What is PDR?

The Performance Development Review (PDR) is an opportunity to:

  • Review the past year, identifying successes and problems.
  • Plan for the future, taking into consideration the objectives of the College or Professional Service.
  • Identify learning and development opportunities.

Benefits of PDR for the Individual

  • A formal opportunity to review progress and plan for future activity and development.
  • An exchange of experience and feedback at both personal and professional levels.
  • Clarification of roles and responsibilities.
  • Opportunity to suggest improvements and changes.
  • A formal record of experience and learning over time.

Benefits of PDR for the College/Professional Service/Team

  • Improved communications.
  • Identification and pursuit of common goals.
  • Better planning for learning and development on an individual, College/Professional Service or University-wide basis.

Which applies to me?

For forms, guidance notes and further information on your PDR please click on the relevant button on the right hand side of the table below.

Staff categoryForms and further information
Staff in the Education and Research/Education and Scholarship job family. PDR academic
Research Staff (Research Fellow job family). PDR research fellows
Professional Services staff in Central Administration and in Colleges. PDR professional services

Training for PDR

For all Staff (Reviewees): To get the best out of the PDR process please refer to these on-line resources:

Academic Staff: https://eletoolkit.exeter.ac.uk/play.php?template_id=180

Professional Services Staff: https://eletoolkit.exeter.ac.uk/play.php?template_id=54

For Reviewers: All Reviewers are expected to undertake training in order to carry out PDRs:

Staff category
PDR and Coaching Skills for Academic Leads
PDR training for Reviewers (Research Fellows)
PDR training for Reviewers (Professional Services)

PDR timing

For each type of PDR there is a key meeting with follow up meeting(s), which should take place based on the following timescales:

Staff categoryKey meetingFollow up meeting(s)
Staff in the Education and Research/Education and Scholarship job family March September
Research Staff (Research Fellow job family) June January 
Professional Services staff in Central Administration and in Colleges June January