Individual Development Plan (IDP)
Individual Development Plans (IDPs) help you reflect on your goals, plan for your graduate experience, and understand how IDPs support academic, professional, and personal development during your time at Notre Dame and beyond. All the information you need to complete your IDP is here on this website, including links to the tools you'll use to complete and submit your IDP.
As you proceed, you will:
- Complete a self-assessment
- Write SMART goals
- Submit your self-assessment and SMART goals
- Explore career pathways
- Reflect annually with Graduate Career Services
Why do I need an IDP?
An IDP helps you identify priorities, set development goals, and document progress over time. It also supports Graduate School expectations and aligns with the planning practices encouraged by major research funders such as NIH and NSF.
What are the benefits?
IDPs support intentional reflection, better goal setting, stronger mentor conversations, and a clearer connection between graduate training and future career possibilities. A strong plan gives you a practical framework for making yearly progress in coursework, research, professional development, and career exploration.
Background
IDPs have become an important part of graduate and postdoctoral education across many disciplines. Individual Development Plans are increasingly expected across graduate education and research training. The framework gained early traction in the sciences and later expanded into broader graduate and professional development contexts, including humanities and social science training.
By completing an IDP you will:
- Define career goals and provide clear direction
- Break large ambitions into practical milestones
- Support personal and professional development
- Improve communication between students and mentors
- Build confidence in long-term progress
