Our approach to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is focused on learning outcomes. CPD activities will vary depending on where you are in your career and what you are aiming to achieve; they are individual to each engineer and there are currently no quantitative measures required, i.e. hours spent or points-based system.
Activities such as on the job learning, projects, problem solving, research, conferences, mentoring, volunteering, technical learning, management training and so much more – all count as valid CPD.
Formal CPD is the easiest to identify, whether it be attending a conference, going on a management course or attaining new qualifications. It is commonly misunderstood as the only recognised form of CPD; often overlooked is the value of informal learning.
Research has shown that only 10% of learning comes from formal training. The 70:20:10 model suggests that 20% of learning originates from working with others, e.g. coaching colleagues, collaboration on projects or giving/receiving feedback, and 70% from experience, experiment and reflection (e.g. problem solving, challenging tasks, auditing/reviewing.
A lot of what you do in your day-to-day work can contribute towards your development; this could be increasing your knowledge and understanding of engineering through research for a new project; taking on responsibility for a new budget; and even developing you communication and inter-personal abilities in coaching others.
Anything related to professional development counts and should be measured in terms of how much you, the individual, learn from it. Most importantly, CPD is not just technical development; UK-SPEC mostly covers non-technical competences and anything that increases your skills in management. Communication or your community involvement and commitment to the profession can and should also be recorded as valid CPD, especially if you feel that activity has been beneficial.
Attending specialist Institution technical events
Being on an Institution Division or Group committee
Organising a seminar or other technical event
Contributing to journals
Reading journals to keep up to date
Editing a journal
Reviewing papers for journals
Any Institution activities increasing your technical knowledge
Attending specialist technical events
Applying for a patent
Researching a technical subject to increase your knowledge
Writing/publishing technical papers
Undertaking a placement at work in a different technical area to increase the breadth of technical skills
Reviewing papers for technical publicationls
Any activities increasing your technical knowledge
Attending technical events, evening lectures, seminars etc
Presenting at technical events
Volunteering at Formula Student and other Institution Divisions and Groups activities
Attending a technical specialist course e.g. ‘Railway Fleet Maintenance’
Contributing to Journals
Any IMechE activities increasing your technical knowledge
Presenting at technical events/conferences
Undertaking a technical qualification
Chairing an Institution Committee
Leading a technical event
Attending a leadership/management course
Any activities within the Institution that give opportunities to develop your commercial and technical leadership
Taking on a leadership role such as being a local councillor or School Governor
Having budget responsibility for a local group, such as Treasurer for Photographic Society
Supporting course development for Educational establishments
Any activities giving opportunities to develop your commercial and technical leadership
Presenting at a seminar or evening event
Carrying out Professional Review Interviews
Being an Industrial or Academic Liaison Officer (ILO/ALO)
Any Institution activities where you can develop or demonstrate your interpersonal skills
Public speaking – through political bodies, speaking organisations such as Toastmasters.org etc
Committee roles in your community – church, school, subject groups etc
Organising local events – such as fetes, carnivals, fundraising events etc
Coaching your staff at work
Any activities where you can develop or demonstrate your interpersonal skills
STEM Ambassador activities
Mentoring young engineers
MPDS Mentoring
Volunteering for Professional Review Interviews
Supporting Imagineering events
Any Institution activities contributing to society
Running an after school club
Discussing ethical issues with colleagues
Supporting The Big Bang events
Any community activities contributing to society
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