Introducing Continuous Professional Development (CPD) for Ireland’s IT professionals
Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is a combination of learning and development approaches that plays a key role globally in areas such as IT, engineering, accounting, medicine, law and marketing.
For professionals, CPD is about managing your own learning and career progression so that you can deliver results to your stakeholders – such as clients, management and other business functions.
Take ownership of your career development.
Enter your CPD activities for verification.
Monitor and review your CPD progress.
Display your CPD progress on social media.
Announcing a new career progression pathway for Ireland's IT professionals that is:
In addition, the Irish Computer Society has developed for its members a free-to-use, online system to support their recording, tracking and sharing of their professional development.
CPD or building your skills is not a reactionary process in response to a promotion or new role; it should be ongoing and thought out. In doing so your performance in your current role will improve and make you more attractive for your new role or promotion. CPD benefits include:
Improves your employability and helps you advance in your career.
Builds skills required to work with better employers and better projects.
Improves your professional credibility, confidence and job-satisfaction.
Builds your professional network with others – online and at conferences, training and events
Employers too can benefit from the availability of a clearly-defined, structured and progressive framework for both measuring and encouraging the professional development of those performing IT and IT management roles, both within their organisations and throughout the economy generally.
Improves staff performance by fostering the continuous building of skills and abilities.
A robust professional development structure can be an attractive feature of talented new hires.
Improves staff morale, retention and company image, and exposes staff to industry best practices.
When linked to performance appraisals, CPD can help employees focus their achievements.
IT professionals play an increasingly critical role at all levels in organisations of every type and size. It is important that their contribution and development is recognised and valued.
An abundance of well trained, experienced and competent professionals enhances the status of the ICT profession
Progressive CPD promotes research and evidence based practice increasing professional recognition.
CPD provides stakeholders with evidence of the professions commitment to a high quality service
Information Technology accounts for one-third of Ireland's exports by value and one-quarter of the economy by turnover.
SOURCE: CEPIS Survey of Professional e-Competence in Europe: Ireland Report
of IT managers have a
degree or higher
IT companies
In Ireland
of Irish exports
by value
additional professionals needed by 2018
CPD is a unique journey for each professional – the skills and methods you develop and apply will evolve as your career does. As you grow in experience and expertise, you may focus on some CPD weightings more than others.
Formal learning is typically provided by education or training institutions, with structured learning objectives, learning time, and learning support. It is intentional on the part of the learner and leads to certification.
Examples include:
Non-formal learning is not provided by an education or training institution and typically does not lead to certification. It is intentional on the part of the learner and has structured objectives, times and support.
Examples include activities and events such as:
Informal learning results from daily activities related to work, family life or leisure. It is not structured and usually does not lead to certification. In most cases, it is unintentional on the part of the learner. Examples include:
Members should be recognised for their efforts to support the profession, their colleagues and aspiring ICT professionals. This includes judging Scratch, F1 in schools, speaking at ICS events/conferences and mentoring.
Examples include activities such as:
As an ICT professional, it is your responsibility to keep your knowledge and competence up to date. In turn, CPD helps you to develop your skills and achieve your career goals.
Why record your CPD:
Recording your CPD:
As you record each new CPD entry, you will see your total CPD points grow.
