Plan where you want to be by 2024 and use CPD courses to get there.
A new year with an abundance of opportunities is available. We all have ambitions, goals, and desires which we are keen to achieve within our workplace. But how do we reach our targets and achieve the advancements in our Higher Education career?
Taking your career to a new level
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is a range of learning programmes for professionals to develop skills and capabilities, usually driven by the employee, with support from their employer.
CPD courses can help you progress your career and stay up to date with research, innovations and changing trends. The wide range of courses offers a vast amount of opportunities to upskill or re-skill, regardless of your age, experience, or occupation. If you want to take your HE career to a new level, you may want to consider CPD courses.
CPD refers to the process of training and progressing professional knowledge, skills, and capabilities through independent, participatory-based, or interactive learning. This type of learning affords professionals opportunities to improve their potential with the assistance of certified learning. CPD courses for higher education professionals should reflect their prevailing expectations as well as ambitions for the future. As your HE career progresses, the knowledge and skills you require will also evolve. However, it should be noted that CPD can only be useful and impactful when: it is diligently planned; it is tailored to your own specific needs within the HE sector; it is provided by professionals who have the necessary expertise; and, there is a definite context on the improvement sought after.
HE professionals should also establish their short-term and long-term objectives while implementing a structured learning plan. They may also be required to record what they are learning and the development they make as a means of keeping track of the skills and knowledge they achieve. CPD training can help HE professionals to:
- Enhance performance in the workplace
- Keep up to date with the latest research and innovations
- Obtain certified status of newly acquired knowledge and skills
- Enhance career progression and opportunities
CPD comes in two varieties: formal and informal.
Formal CPD includes active and structured learning that usually consists of lectures, workshops and events, seminars, and conferences, offered through in-person and online training programmes.
Informal CPD is known as self-directed learning which usually consists of: following HE news, research and trends; examining articles and specific case studies connected to your sector; and, studying for professional examinations.
The benefits of CPD
CPD provides an array of benefits for both the learner and the employer. If you are seeking career progression, diversion, or innovative opportunities then the CPD could greatly assist you as it opens doors to future employment opportunities. Additionally, CPD can enhance personal skills, capabilities, and confidence, and demonstrates self-determination, ambition, motivation, independence, and qualifications which will impress current and prospective employers.
Within HE institutions, partaking in CPD establishes a high standard for staff development and allows the organisation to keep up to date with the latest changes and trends. As employees gain enhanced skills and knowledge, the organisation has the potential for greater productivity and reputation. HE institutions, when endorsing participation in CPD, can also increase staff retention rates and bring about a solid learning culture in the workplace.
CPD can hugely benefit your career development in Higher Education. It can help you progress towards promotion and achieve added recognition for your work. By completing various CPD courses, your career could greatly benefit by making you, as a professional, more valuable. Your knowledge and skills will be enhanced, therefore, giving you and your employer more confidence.
Top Reasons Why You Should Engage in CPD this Year
You become more competent in the workplace
CPD can enhance your knowledge and skill set, therefore you can become more competent in the workplace. This, in turn, can help with career progression, where you can secure more responsibility.
You keep up to date with trends and changes within your sector
Trends change consistently. By equipping yourself with up-to-date research, knowledge, and skills you will keep up with the pace of change.
You remain motivated and interested in your career path
CPD can help you stay interested in your profession. The more interested you are, the more motivated and enthusiastic you are and therefore more efficient at your role.
To keep standards high
By investing in CPD, you can trust that you will be equipped with relevant information, knowledge, and skills and therefore high standards.
You can assist with progressing the body of knowledge and innovations within your profession
Through CPD participation you can keep up to date with knowledge, innovations, and advancements within your field.
You have enhanced comprehension of the implications of your work
CPD involvement can help you understand the connotations of your role and your work.
You can access experts in specific fields of study.
CPD can provide you with opportunities to liaise with experts in specific professions.
If you are a professional working in the field of Higher Education completing a continuous professional development course could help you reinvigorate your career and enhance future employment opportunities. It should be noted though, setting learning aims and objectives from the very start is vital as CPD is about lifelong learning, career development and skills, and knowledge progression.
In our modern world and within HE, change is consistent. It is therefore important to keep progressing in our professional endeavours. Partaking in CPD allows you to stay ahead of the curve. Continuous learning reaps growth and progression, so if you want to attain success in your HE career, CPD is the way forward.
- Interactive CPD Toolkit
- What is Continuing Professional Development (CPD)?
- Managing Your Continuing Professional Development
- How to Create a Professional Development Plan
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