Courses - CPD

Continuing Professional Development

In 1995 the lWSc Council of Management endorsed the proposal to establish a voluntary CPD scheme for Institute members.

What is CPD?

Based on the belief that education and training is a continuous process CPD can be defined as "the process of planned and continuing development of the individual throughout their career".

Its objectives are seen to be as follows:

to provide a framework which will encourage members of all grades of membership to continue relevant studies and to maintain and extend their professional and technical knowledge,
to benefit individuals, their employers and ul tim ately the tim ber industry as a whole,
to provide a route whereby individuals can improve their category of membership within the Institute (see below).

Many other professional institutions have such schemes and, in some cases, they are a condition of membership whilst in others they run on a voluntary basis. It is intended that participation in the IWSc scheme will be strongly encouraged but not obligatory.

CPD as a means of career development

CPD is an individual responsibility. It is an activity which maintains, enhances and adds to the knowledge and competence of the individual to the benefit of their capabilities. For members of the IWSc CPD will cover a wide range of activities, including exposure to new technologies, procedures or materials and technical updates in the field of Wood Science and Technology. Members will have widely differing needs and aspirations and thus a rigid structure is not appropriate. Each member will decide which topics or aspects are to be pursued and will set themselves specific objectives. These will probably reflect the member's circumstances and career development.

CPD as an enhancement of membership grades

The Membership and Education Committees and the Council of Management have agreed that a suitable record of CPD representing not less than 60 hours of approved study may be submitted in place of one of the optional modules necessary for progression from Licentiate to Member grade.
Other options and benefits to be obtained from the accreditation of CPD are the subject of further discussion in the relevant committees. Proposals from members outlining a structured CPD programme as part of a submission for raising grade status will be reviewed by the membership committee.

Ways of undertaking CPD

Attendance at the IWSc Annual Convention
Attendance at IWSc regional or joint venture seminars
Attendance at IWSc branch meetings
Attendance on external/internal courses related to wood science and technology
Writing and publishing material related to wood science or tim ber technology or the preparation of lectures
Organizing/attending educational visits to manufacturing or industrial sites etc.
Structured reading (see below).

Reading of technical literature, convention papers or journals can count for up to 20% of recorded CPD that is being accumulated for progression within the Institute's grade structure. The subjects studied must be itemized and related to the individual's development plan.

Planning and recording CPD

Participating members will be asked to keep a record of their CPD.
This will be kept as simple as possible but it will include the provision to record the following details:

Date
Type of study
Title of event or activity
Hours of CPD claimed