Each year the PWI Professional Development Committee audit a sample of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) records from members; in particular professionally registered members. A sample of 5% of registered members is reviewed; in 2023 a total of 19 CPD records were reviewed by our auditors.

Personalised feedback is provided to those audited, but we commit to share the learnings with the wider community so everyone can benefit from it.

The 2023 sample demonstrated that some good CPD records are being kept; exceeding the recommended 30 hours per annum and with a good variety of activities.

However, there was little evidence of supporting the mentoring and development of others. This is a key activity for all Engineers (young and old), required by the Engineering Council and your Code of Professional Conduct. Sharing details of your projects and experiences is really rewarding and encourages peers and colleagues with their own personal development. CV’s often suggest that individuals are doing this, but it is not being recorded as CPD.

As we have highlighted previously, reflection and comment on activities could be better and remains a key area for improvement. Reflection on CPD activity is crucial: what did you get from it? What do you now understand? What were the highlights and lowlights? How has it helped your personal objectives and career? Is there further future development to plan? Cross referencing between the PDP and the CPD should be part of this reflection and review; this can result in setting further personal targets. A summary of the reflection with regard to specific targets is all that’s required, although members might like to also perform an annual reflection on how they performed against their overall objectives.

Reflection will help you link your PDP and CPD so you can see how the things you’ve done (your CPD activities) have helped you work toward the targets in your PDP. This demonstrates purpose, objective or reason for undertaking the activity. Your CPD record should include a column to indicate which PDP objective the activity relates to. However there will always be a place for unplanned activities to record too.

Strong PDPs included a range of personal targets – short, medium and longer term – reflecting an individual’s present position in industry and options and ambition for the future: thinking ahead five years is good practice. Members towards the end of their career should also continue to set practical challenging targets.

Finally, support your PWI! There are so many excellent sources of CPD, including great opportunities to network and catch up with colleagues. Local Section meetings (in-person or online), fortnightly online Lunch and Learns, Technical Seminars, quarterly Journals and the Knowledge Hub. Get involved!

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Auditor’s Viewpoint

“It takes about 60-90 minutes to complete each audit and it is certainly more helpful to have the PDP and cv to consider alongside the CPD record”.

“When conducting a review of CPD records, I never look to assign pass / fail criteria, only to offer guidance from personal experience; after all we are all on the same team and part of the same institution so it’s in our mutual interest for team members to remain competent and safe in engineering practice, and to develop in accordance with their planned objectives.”