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Continuing Professional Development: Guidance

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The Institutions CPD Policy

The Institution defines CPD as being the systematic

maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge and

skill and the development of personal qualities necessary for the

execution of professional and technical duties throughout the

practitioner's working life. Attaining a professional qualification isnot the end of the road, merely one stage in the process of

lifelong learning. Structural engineers need to change and

develop in order to remain competitive in an evolving industry.

To further this ethos the Council of the Institution, at its meeting

on 23 May 1996, approved the introduction of an additional Rule

of Conduct to clarify members' obligations to the profession in

respect of CPD:

It is the Institution's intention to ensure that its members remain

at the forefront in maintaining and developing their professional

competence for their own benefit and for that of society.

Members should also assist in furthering the formation and

professional development of other members and prospective

members of the profession.

The Benefits of CPD

Benefits to the individual

Maintaining and improving knowledge and abilities will lead

to enhanced work performance and confidence

Career prospects will be widened and improved

CPD focuses the individuals career development allowing

for specific targeting of areas of development

Individuals will be able to more readily react and adapt to a

changing profession and world

CPD records and annual returns demonstrate a

commitment to the profession and continued competence

In an increasingly litigious world, it makes obvious sense to

take precautions against possible legal action. It is not

beyond the realms of possibility to imagine an enterprisinglawyer in a courtroom capitalising on the lack of a CPD

accreditation in order to undermine or cast doubt on an

individuals professionalism. An easy way to potentially

mitigate against this eventuality is simply to ensure that your

CPD Return is approved

Although graduates are not requested to complete the

annual return, they are required to demonstrate a

commitment to CPD during their Professional Review

Interview and need to gain the support and signature of a

Fellow for their application to Chartered or Associate-Membership this can be easily achieved by attendance at

Branch evening meetings and seminars

CPD records are required when transferring to the grade of

Fellow.

Benefits to the employer

Better skilled and more efficient workforce

More adaptable staff

Employers supporting CPD can expect greater staff

retention and motivation

There may be a potential impact, through non-submission of

CPD, on P.I. Insurance and liability under CDM regulations.

Introduction

CPD is becoming progressively more important internationally and within an ever-growing number of professions. Structural

engineering is no different, and the highly competitive nature of the industry means that the maintenance and development of skills

and abilities is of fundamental importance if one is to preserve ones standing and advance ones career or practice.

Clients and employers increasingly expect engineers to undertake appropriate CPD on an on-going basis, and, although support may

be garnered from ones employer, the onus for development remains on the individual as the primary interface between the industry

and the general public. Working within such a high profile industry, and especially one so closely concerned with health, safety and

risk on a variety of levels, places a number of obligations on members of this Institution; not least amongst these is the duty to

maintain and extend their knowledge, expertise and experience.

REVIEW

Analysis/

Appraisal

DEVELOPMENT

ACTIVITIES

ASSESSING

ACHIEVEMENT

THE CPDCYCLE

Evidence of

Competence

Gained

Profiles of

Competence &

Needs

Development

Plan

Development

Record

PLANNING

This model is derived from CPD Framework provided by EUSCCCIP European

project for the Use of Standards of Competence in CPD for Construction

Industry Practitioners, November 1997. The model has also been adopted by a

number of other organisations, including the Construction Industry Council

(CIC) and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE).

Members of the Institution shall have a duty to update

and broaden their professional knowledge and skills on acontinuing basis

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CPD Activities

The Member activities section of the Return is split into four

sections. Members should complete all applicable sections;

Members should not feel compelled to enter information into an

area where they have no activities to report.

CPD is not just about attending courses there are many ways

of undertaking CPD. These include (but are in no way restricted

to):

1. Work-based learning:

teaching/mentoring of members and prospective

members

project specific research

IT skills development.

2. Self-directed study:

preparation and delivery of lectures

preparation of articles and refereed papers

reading of journals/technical papers

appropriate TV programmes

post-graduate study.

3. Courses/events/seminars:

Institution

in-house

external (for example, supplier-led seminars)

attendance at lectures, seminars or conferences.

4. Horizon broadening activities:

Institution work (e.g. Branch and Institution committees,

informal study groups, Part 3 examiner, interviews, etc)

community and public service involvement (e.g. school

governor, business and community involvement, etc).

Completing the Return

The Institution will accept forms from other

organisations

This means that if you have already completed a return for

another institution (for example, ICE, HKIE, IEAUST, IPENZ) or

prepared a professional development forward plan/record for

your employer or personal use you can simply submit a copy

of that document to the Institution as it is the content that is

important not the type of form. This is also the case where you

are required to submit a return as part of the legal requirements

of practicing in your locality. Consequently there is no need to

copy and paste information from one form to another. The only

thing we would ask is that your name, branch and membership

number are clearly indicated.

Give details wherever possible (including dates)

As far as possible members should avoid using vague,

unsubstantiated terms. Although those Professional

Development Panel members reviewing the forms are not asking

for reams of information, they will want to understand what CPD

has been undertaken and gain a flavour of the development of

the individual. As such, terms such as various seminars,

research related to numerous projects and so forth would notbe considered acceptable. This is not to say that the necessary

CPD remains unfulfilled, merely that, as the details have not been

included, it can not be appropriately gauged. Hence, wherever

possible, the member should indicate what the seminar was

about, or what research was undertaken. Again, this does not

require an exhaustive description, one simple line stating the title

of the course or the name of the paper read will usually be

sufficient.

Dont simply list work responsibilities ensure that the learning

you have undertaken is clearly stated

Members should always avoid simply listing their work

responsibilities. Similarly, it is not enough to give details of

projects worked on, unless they also state how they have

undertaken research/learning related to those projects.

The online facility

If members are having trouble remembering the CPD they have

done during the year, they may well find the online facility very

useful. Accessed via the My Area section, this web-based

resource allows members to enter details onto a Return at any

point during the year and save the information for future

reference. This means that, come submission time, members will

only need to update the form if necessary and click the

submit button. In addition, and at the request of several

members, we have introduced the ability to archive CPD

Returns. This will automatically occur when a member submits a

Return, and this archived Return will remain accessible to the

member should they wish to a previously submitted CPD Return.

Please note that as the online facility is contained within the

protected My Area section it is only possible to view andamend your own details.

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Example Returns

Poor Return Good Return

The Institution ofStructural EngineersPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

ANNUAL RETURN 2005

Yes No

Assessors Use

Further Assessment

For guidance notes see reverse of form.

Please amend any incorrect information.

Surname: Forename(s):

Grade: Membership Number:

Branch/Division:

Job Description/Role (Optional):Please include organisation type,

.e.g. sole practitioner, partnership, etc

a) Members report as to CPD activities over the last 12 months: (PLEASE COMPLETE ALL APPLICABLE

SECTIONS. IF NECESSARY, PLEASE CONTINUE ON A SEPARATE SHEET)1. Work-based learning: incl. mentoring; research in relation to specific projects; development of organisational skills; etc

Talk to colleagues regularly regarding aspects of work

2. Self-directed study: incl. journals/technical publications; appropriate TV programmes; distance learning; post-grad study; etc

Bought a few technical books over the year

Read Institution magazine

3. Courses/events/seminars: including I nstitution; internal; external; etc.

Please state number attended: institution (IStructE/ICE/etc)2/other (e.g. in-house, supplier-led, etc)3

Attended some in-house and external seminars/courses

4. Horizon broadening activities: including Institution work; community/public service involvement; etc

b) Members intentions for Professional Development during the next 12 months:....

...

.......

Signed: Dated:.....Please return by 31 March 2006 to The Institution of Structural Engineers, 11 Upper Belgrave Street, London SW1X 8BH, UK.Non-return of this form will preclude members from benefiting from the CPD annotation in the Yearbook and the MembersDirectory on the web site. Supplementary information may be attached to this form. (Please use staples and NOT paperclips.)

The Institution ofStructural EngineersPROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

ANNUAL RETURN 2005

Yes No

Assessors Use

Further Assessment

For guidance notes see reverse of form.

Please amend any incorrect information.

Surname: Forename(s):

Grade: Membership Number:

Branch/Division:

Job Description/Role (Optional):Please include organisation type,

.e.g. sole practitioner, partnership, etc

a) Members report as to CPD activities over the last 12 months: (PLEASE COMPLETE ALL APPLICABLE

SECTIONS. IF NECESSARY, PLEASE CONTINUE ON A SEPARATE SHEET)1. Work-based learning: incl. mentoring; research in relation to specific projects; development of organisational skills; etc

Training Officer for East Lancs office ongoing

Amongst other things, discussions with colleagues regarding bridge and culvert inspection, fire engineering, and resin

injection techniques to deal with subsidence

2. Self-directed study: incl. journals/technical publications; appropriate TV programmes; distance learning; post-grad study; etc

Journals (read throughout the year): The Structual Engineer

New Civil Engineer

Other reading:

Suitability testing of materials to absorb lateral stresses behind integral bridge abutments. CARDER, D. R. and

others, 2002;

Bridge decks: cathodic protection. Crowthorne, Berkshire: Transport and Road Research Laboratory, KENDELL, K.

and LEWIS, D. A, 1984;

Proceedings of the 3rd international conference on current and future trends in bridge design, construction and

maintenance held in Shanghai, China 29 September-1stOctober, 2003, ICE China, BARR, B. I. G. and others,eds., 2003

3. Courses/events/seminars: including Institution; internal; external; etc.

Please state number attended: institution (IStructE/ICE/etc)3/other (e.g. in-house, supplier-led, etc)4

Institution:

1. The New Wembley Stadium 10th June 2005 (IStructE London)2. Key Elements of the New CDM Regulations: what the industry needs to move forward Speaker: John Carpenter,

SCOSS. 28th September 2005 (Local Branch)

3. Design and Construction of Marine Way Bridge, Southport Speaker: David Slater, Babtie. 8th December 2005(Local Branch)

Other:

1. Behaviour of Soil Pressure and Interactions 12th January 20052. Strengthening Techniques for Masonary Arch Bridges 1st March 20053. Health and Safety (refresher course) 15th September 20054. In-house Quality Awareness Meeting 26th November 20054. Horizon broadening activities: including Institution work; community/public service involvement; etc

Professional Review Interviewer for IStructE

Member of Parish Council and Parent-Teacher Association

b) Members intentions for Professional Development during the next 12 months:1. Potential to develop amanagement role over coming years so will attend course/seminar on management and discuss with colleagues; 2.

Further research into the development of steel bridges in the US (personal interest); 3. Develop knowledge of

contracts and markets.

Signed: Dated:.....Please return by 31 March 2006 to The Institution of Structural Engineers, 11 Upper Belgrave Street, London SW1X 8BH, UK.Non-return of this form will preclude members from benefiting from the CPD annotation in the Yearbook and the MembersDirectory on the web site. Supplementary information may be attached to this f orm. (Please use staples and NOT paperclips.)

Consulting Engineer for The Large Bridge Company (approx. 50 employees)

The Institution of Structural Engineers

International HQ

11 Upper Belgrave Street

London SW1X 8BH

United Kingdom

tel: +44 (0)20 7235 4535

fax: + 44 (0)20 7235 4294

mail@istructe.org

www.istructe.org

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