Continuing Professional Development

1
Continuing Professional Development

• Andrew Stewart
• Agrilink Chairman

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Continuing Professional Development

• Andrew Stewart
• Head of DG 90 LLL

Life Long Learning
3
Background

• Joint NIIAS/ASA initiative with 75 funding from
  Interreg
• Aims
• Identify training needs
• Develop and pilot a Continuing Professional
  Development (CPD) framework
• Development Partners Aurion Learning
• www.aurion.co.uk

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Survey coverage

• Existing qualifications/employment
• Training needs in key Knowledge Areas
• Attitude to Professional Development
• Role of NIIAS/ASA in Professional Development

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Survey participants
N. Ireland 58 (33 female)
Border Counties 54 (13 female)
Membership of Professional Bodies
6
What is professionalism?

• Profession
• Paid occupation involving Training and Formal
  Qualification

Professional Having Impressive Competency in a
Particular Activity Skilful, Expert
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Key Knowledge Areas

• Livestock Production
• Crop Production
• Business Management
• Rural Development
• The Environment
• Personal Skills
• Other Key Areas

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Importance of Knowledge Areas to present work

• 1. Personal Skills

2. Environment
3. Business Management
4. Other Areas
5. Livestock Production
6. Rural Development
7. Crops
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Personal Skills training required
N 112
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Innovation and Change

• Challenge norms and champion new
  innovations/initiatives act as a catalyst for
  change and stimulate others to change pave the
  way for change, manage change implementation
  process

N 112
11
The Environment training required
N112
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The Environment CAP Reform

• Have an up-to-date knowledge of the
  environmental implications of CAP Reform and be
  able to interpret and advise on their impact on
  local farming activities

N 112
13
Waste Management

• Have a knowledge of EU and local government
  legislation/regulations dealing with agricultural
  wastes and use of agricultural land for waste
  disposal and be able to provide advice on their
  implementation (e.g. animal by-product,
  packaging, IPPC, industrial/municipal waste)

N 112
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Summary of training needs by Knowledge Area
N112
15
Survey results Professional Development
N112
N112
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Survey results Professional Development
N112
N112
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Survey results Professional Development
N112
N112
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Survey results Professional Development
N112
N112
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Survey results Professional Development
N112
N112
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Online CPD Framework and Learning Environment

• Survey identified a need for a secure, online
  environment to allow for the management of
  continuing professional development activities
  (CPD) for Professionals working in Agriculture
• Identified the opportunity for a communication
  and collaboration tool to allow for effective
  knowledge sharing

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• Currently 3 key components
• CPD Portfolio
• Database of relevant online and distance learning
  courses and training/education providers
• Knowledge Exchange Forum

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The CPD Cycle
The CPD Portfolio tool is based on a 4-stage CPD
cycle

• Members can
• Analyse their training needs
• Plan their training
• Record training undertaken
• Reflect on the training undertaken

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Supporting the member

• A Record Only option has been added
• CPD is still a voluntary scheme
• Emphasis is placed on the member to plan and
  record activities
• Inbuilt CPD scheme with a points system
• Basis of a framework for regulatory purposes,
  membership grading etc.

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Additional features

• Training course database
• Database of relevant training providers and
  accredited courses
• Emphasis on online and distance learning
  programmes
• Has the capacity to expand

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Additional features

• Knowledge Forum
• Allows members to profile themselves and find
  specialists in key areas
• Discussion forum tool to support collaboration
  and knowledge sharing
• Capacity to build networks of specialists across
  Europe

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A Proven Alternative Aurion CPD EngageTM

• CPD EngageTM is a simple, robust online CPD
  Management System
• Centrally administered by the Professional Body
• Relieves administration burden of registration,
  monitoring, and annual returns
• Supports transparent sampling and verification
  procedures
• Gathers business intelligence information on
  member knowledge profiles and training patterns
• Improves decision making capabilities with
  comprehensive reporting
• Acts as an effective communication marketing
  tool
• Allows for a strategic approach to CPD management

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A Proven Alternative Aurion CPD EngageTM

• Member benefits
• Reduces the record keeping overhead with
• A simple, diary-based online record of attendance
  at CPD activities
• Facilities to upload evidence of attendance
• Facilities to reflect on individual CPD
  activities and the CPD cycle
• An online annual return submission facility for
  the Professional Body/Regulator
• Supports the effective analysis of training needs
  and will recommend training courses from the
  training course database
• Supports the effective planning of learning and
  development through development goals and planned
  activities for the year.

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Looking towards the future Aurion CPD Manager

• CPD EngageTM is a simple and robust online CPD
  Management System
• An off-the-shelf solution that can be easily
  customised to meet the needs of the Professional
  Body
• Can integrate with the Professional Bodies
  website and membership database as needed

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Way forward

• Redefine role of Professional bodies
• Define competencies needed
• Establish an independent Regulatory Body
• Harmonise Qualifications across Europe
• Develop an online EU Postgraduate Qualification
• Develop short online accredited courses
• Seek EU funding