Introduction: Growing Through and Beyond Your Course

John Dewey – a well know American educational philosopher, taught us that effective learning could only happen through experience. He argued that we learn best by acting and experimenting in the real world, rather than being told what to think or know, through abstract concepts. Importantly, Dewey argued that it was the continuous relation between experience and reflection on experience that generated learning.  

So far, we have covered a wide range of ways in which you can make the most out of university, by getting involved with different spaces and communities in and beyond your course. In this topic, we are going to explore ways in which you can systematically plan, reflect and learn from those experiences, whilst working to achieve long-term goals. We will do this through the concept of five-year planning – a term you might have come across in the past.  

A five-year plan usually means a well-established long-term plan that comprises of short-term goals to achieve it.  At Manchester Met, we promote a culture of five-year planning, to help students identify their long-term goals and decide on what activities and experiences are most relevant for them to engage with and reflect on. Students then keep track of their plan, experiences and reflections in a portfolio, so that they can keep track of their progress, and at a later date use to improve their CVs or stand out in postgraduate or job interviews. We call this process ‘My Five Year Plan’ (My 5YP).  

My 5YP comprises of a set of resources and support that will help students complete a My 5YP cycle, based on five stages: self-assessment, goal setting, activity selection, activity completion, activity reflection. 

In this self study pack, we are going to help you with the basics of five-year planning, and introduce you to the key stages of the My5YP cycle. Having a sense of where you want to be, will motivate and inspire you to get actively involved with your course and community at university, and add a sense of purpose to what you do.