Individual development plan

An individual development plan, or IDP, is a document completed by an employee, or a student, to encourage their self-development over a fixed period, often one year.

Using IDPs can provide a guide an organisation with detailed information on the competencies and needs of their employees and guide the creation of targetted training and development programmes. A 2018 study of postdoctoral students found that 38% of those used IDPs, found the process useful for their career development.