Continuing Professional Development

Andrew StewartAgrilink Chairman

Continuing Professional Development

Andrew StewartHead of DG 90 LLL

Life Long Learning

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 Learningwww.aurion.co.uk

Survey coverage

1. Existing qualifications/employment

2. Training needs in key Knowledge Areas

3. Attitude to Professional Development

4. Role of NIIAS/ASA in Professional

Development

Survey participants

NIIAS 32

ASA 44

Other 3

None 33

112

Membership of Professional Bodies

N. Ireland: 58 (33% female)

Border Counties 54 (13% female)

Profession“Paid occupation involving Training and

Formal Qualification”

What is professionalism?

Professional“Having Impressive Competency in a Particular Activity – Skilful, Expert

Key Knowledge Areas

1. Livestock Production2. Crop Production3. Business Management4. Rural Development5. The Environment6. Personal Skills7. Other Key Areas

Importance of Knowledge Areas to present work1. Personal Skills2. Environment

3. Business Management

4. Other Areas5. Livestock Production

6. Rural Development7. Crops

Personal Skills – training required

48%

59%64%

76%70%

74%79% 78%

71%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1 IT - Computer Skills

2Communicating/ Networking

3 Evaluating Information

4 Managing Others

5 Managing Self

6 Project Management

7Negotiation & Influencing Skills

8 Innovation & Change

9 Customer FocusN = 112

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”

Innovation and Change

6%6%

73%

15% Not applicable

Need comprehensivetraining

Need some training

Adequately trained

N = 112

1 CAP Reforms

2 Water Quality & Pollution Control

3 Waste Management

4 Biodiversity/Wildlife conservation

5 Genetic Conservation

6 Landscape Conservation

7 Conservation of Historic Environment

8 GM Crops

9 Environmental Inspections

10 GPS

The Environment – training required

N=112

67%72%

76%71%

66% 66% 63%67%

62%

77%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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

11%

7%

60%

22%Not applicable

Need comprehensivetraining

Need some training

Adequately trained

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)”

13%

17%

59%

11%

Not applicable

Need comprehensivetraining

Need some training

Adequately trained

N = 112

Summary of training needs by Knowledge Area

60%53%

70%64%

68% 69% 67%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 Livestock

2 Crops

3 Business Management

4 Rural Development

5 Environment

6 Personal Skills

7 Other Areas

N=112

Survey results – Professional Development

N=112 N=112

My employer provides me with all my professional training

5%

19% 16%

48%

12%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Not sure Agree StronglyAgree

Developing my professional competencies is important to me

4%0% 3%

37%

57%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Not sure Agree StronglyAgree

Survey results – Professional Development

N=112 N=112

Professional development should be carried out in working hours

1%11%

22%

47%

19%

0%10%20%30%40%50%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Not sure Agree StronglyAgree

I am willing to undertake professional development training outside working hours

8% 12% 15%

58%

7%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Not sure Agree StronglyAgree

Survey results – Professional Development

N=112 N=112

It is my responsibility to pay for my professional development training

17%

48%

26%

4% 4%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Not sure Agree StronglyAgree

Professional development training courses should be accredited by a University or College

2%

12%16%

43%

28%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Not sure Agree StronglyAgree

Survey results – Professional Development

N=112 N=112

An online Professional Development Planning/Recording tool would be useful

2%

11%

36%

44%

8%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Not sure Agree StronglyAgree

An online tool to discuss issues with other Professional Agriculturists would be useful in my

work

2% 6%

24%

52%

15%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Not sure Agree StronglyAgree

Survey results – Professional Development

N=112 N=112

I would support NIIAS/ASA in providing an online CPD for Professional Agriculturists

1%6%

15%

57%

21%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Not sure Agree StronglyAgree

Special interest visits with Professional Agriculturists from across the border would help me in my work

0% 1%

13%

66%

20%

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%

StronglyDisagree

Disagree Not sure Agree StronglyAgree

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

• Currently 3 key components1.CPD Portfolio2.Database of relevant online and

distance learning courses and training/education providers

3.Knowledge Exchange Forum

The CPD Cycle

Members can:1. Analyse their training needs2. Plan their training3. Record training undertaken4. Reflect on the training undertaken

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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

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