"Personal development" is a hoop through which employees in most large organisations have to jump. You do not have to be a starry-eyed academic to find it patronising.
The only satisfying explanation is its possible origins in the 1960s or 1970s "human potential movement".
I suspect the real origins, however, might lie in the understandable desire of human resource departments to feel important and morally superior in "life skills".
Martin Parkinson
London NW5
Register to continue
Why register?
- Registration is free and only takes a moment
- Once registered, you can read 3 articles a month
- Sign up for our newsletter
Subscribe
Or subscribe for unlimited access to:
- Unlimited access to news, views, insights & reviews
- Digital editions
- Digital access to THE’s university and college rankings analysis
Already registered or a current subscriber? Login