Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

Description

So, what is CPD? CPD stands for Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and is the term used to describe the learning activities educators engage in to develop and enhance their abilities. It enables learning to become conscious and proactive, rather than passive and reactive. CPD combines different methodologies to learning, such as email news letters, summarizing international educational journal articles, online resources and videos, training workshops, conferences and events, e-learning programs, best practice techniques and ideas sharing, all focused for an individual to improve and have effective professional development. Accompanied by such growth is the acceptance that academic qualifications must offer more vocational and skills-based or ‘practical’ learning. A structured, practical and methodical approach to learning helps heads of schools to retain key staff and develop the skills & knowledge in their schools to maintain a sustainable and competitive advantage. Engaging in Continuing Professional Development ensures that both academic and practical qualifications do not become out-dated or obsolete; allowing educators to continually ‘up skill’ or ‘re-skill’ themselves, regardless of occupation, age or educational level. CPD allows an educator to focus on what specific skills and knowledge they require over a short-term period, say 12 months, in order to be confident there is recognisable improvement within their proficiency and skill sets.