Portfolios: Portfolio Purpose

A portfolio is a collection of work that you have created and compiled over a period of time.  It helps to demonstrate your skills and abilities, by making your academic and professional learning more concrete and visible. Portfolios are used to assess learning across a wide range of subjects including art, graphic design, photography, education, nursing and psychology.  Different types of portfolio may include:

• Course Portfolios
• CPD Portfolios
• Competency-based portfolio

Portfolios can be developed in both electronic (e-portfolios) and print formats, so it is very important to find out how your department would like you to present your work.  

What is the purpose of a portfolio?

Depending on whether your portfolio is part of your course assessment or developed for prospective employers, it may be used to: 

• Demonstrate your engagement in higher levels of thinking through enquiry and reflection. 
• Measure levels of competency for certification, graduation requirements, and career advancement.
• Demonstrate your capacity to translate your life experiences, including work, education, community service, extra-curricular or travel into evidence or artifacts for learning and creativity.