Looking after you - personal growth

What is your ambition? ​

The Oxford University Careers Service offers a free tool to help you identify and articulate your strongest work preferences, motivations, skills and strengths. This tool is called the Career Weaver.

What do I need to do to progress my ambition?

The People and Organisational Development Unit (POD) offers a DIY personal development page; this contains a self-diagnosis tool to identify the gaps in your knowledge and links to online learning to address those areas of knowledge.

Developing myself in my current role and for my next role

Here are links to resources to help you develop your career:

• How to develop in your current role

• A step by step guide on how to prepare yourself for your next role

• Coaching and mentoring for all members of University staff free of charge.

Management and Leadership Courses​

• The Managers' Toolkit​

• The Confident Manager course

• Apprenticeships in Leadership and many other subjects via the Apprenticeship scheme.

Centre for Teaching and Learning ​

The Centre for Teaching and Learning supports the academic development of teaching at Oxford by: ​

• advising on course and curriculum design ​

• enabling the adoption of new technology and digital resources ​

• assisting in piloting new teaching methodology. ​

​They promote a range of flexible and inclusive teaching practices, and provide programmes, guidance and other services including:​

• accredited programmes in teaching and learning in higher education​

• guidance on using digital tools, including technical support and training​

• practical resources relevant to different teaching settings and approaches at Oxford​

• networks and events for sharing teaching practices​

• If you would like to stay informed about their activities, subscribe to their mailing list and termly newsletter. You may also like to follow them on Twitter @CTLOxford.

Department for Continuing Education

The Department for Continuing Education at the University of Oxford offers over 1000 courses ranging from open-access short courses requiring no previous qualifications to postgraduate studies. All courses are open to staff. However, there are currently no staff discounts available. 

Saïd Business School​

The Saïd Business School offers all Oxford University staff a 40% discount on any Online Executive Education Programmes.​

Please take a look at the Online Programmes page to find something to suit you. 

University of Oxford learning schemes ​

The HR Support personal and professional development pages list some of the University Departments that offer training and development opportunities for University staff. ​

​The University of Oxford podcasts are also available to all staff. 

External learning schemes​

• The Open University​

• MOOC.org​

• FutureLearn 

• EdX even offers a course teaching positive psychology​.

Hobbies​

Oxfordshire County Council's Live Well Oxfordshire website includes details of many groups and activities in the area.​

Here are some ideas of groups and activities available within the University:

• The OUP Orchestra is a high-quality amateur orchestra based at Oxford University Press and made up of over 60 staff members of the Press and the University. It is a sociable group, and there are regular post-rehearsal pub trips. The orchestra rehearses 5.15–7.30pm on Wednesdays in Jericho over 8-week terms, with a break for Oxfordshire schools’ half-term holidays, and gives 3 concerts per year. A new conductor is selected by the players every year. For information about joining the orchestra, or with any other questions, write to ouporchestra@gmail.com. Details of upcoming concerts are posted on the OUP Orchestra Facebook page and recordings of previous concerts are available on the OUP Orchestra YouTube channel.

There are many amateur ensembles in and around Oxford, for singers and instrumentalists of every standard, encompassing a wide variety of types of music. Find a group:

• Making Music
• UK Amateur Orchestras
• Folk in Oxford
• Oxfordshire County Council Music Service

Volunteering

You can search for opportunities near you on the Oxfordshire Volunteers website. 

The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) also gives tips on how to find somewhere to volunteer country-wide.​