Vanderbilt University Logo
Skip to main content

People Experience
  2. performance-review
  3. Professional Development

Professional Development

The role of leaders  

Vanderbilt leaders have a responsibility to invest in the development of their employees to help them be successful in their current roles and to prepare them for future opportunities. This can best be accomplished by having conversations with employees about their career goals and working with them to create their professional development goals.   

Having an individual development plan in place for each employee and having quarterly check-ins to talk about progress on their career goals are crucial to ensuring their success.  

The role of employees  

Employees must take ownership of their professional development. Employees should work with their leaders and mentor(s) to talk about their goals and to help them create an individual development plan. The responsibility to take steps to ensure the plan aligns with their development and that goals are achieved lies with the employee. Employees should use the resources available through their leaders and below to establish and meet professional development goals.

Resources  

Vanderbilt University offers a wide variety of professional development courses and training opportunities designed to help employees build their knowledge, skills and abilities and to help them meet their professional development and career goals.  

FLH (Futures Learning Hub)  

The Futures Learning Hub (FLH) at Vanderbilt University is the central resource for staff professional development, fostering growth, innovation, and career advancement. We believe that learning should be accessible, engaging, and relevant—empowering every staff member to thrive in an ever-evolving workplace.

Our mission is to provide best-in-class learning experiences that support skill-building, leadership development, and career progression. Through a blend of in-person, virtual, and on-demand learning opportunities, we equip staff with the knowledge and tools needed to excel in their roles and contribute meaningfully to the Vanderbilt community.

At FLH, we offer:

  • Curated Learning Paths – Tailored resources aligned with career growth and skill development.
  • Blended Learning Experiences – A mix of classroom training, virtual courses, microlearning, and interactive workshops.
  • Cutting-Edge Learning Technologies – Leveraging AI-driven learning, AR/VR simulations, and tablet-powered interactive training modules that provide a seamless, hands-on learning experience anywhere, anytime.
  • Personalized Learning – Ensuring that professional development meets the varied needs of all staff, regardless of role or background.

Our vision is to create a culture of continuous learning where every Vanderbilt staff member has the opportunity to develop professionally, explore new skills, and stay ahead of industry trends.

Join us as we shape the future of learning—together.

Additional resources: