Continuing professional development (CPD) is required to maintain chartered status. CPD involves developing objectives based on your organization and career goals, planning activities to meet those objectives, and periodically checking your progress. It is a needs-based system rather than focusing only on points or activities, and allows flexibility in how you develop your skills and knowledge through methods like reading, training, and independent research. CPD plans and records should be reviewed at least annually to ensure your development remains on track and aligned with your needs and goals.

1. Careers
your questions answered
❱❱ Why do I need to carry out continuing
professional development?
people on
At the CQI we are starting to get If, for example, one objective is to keep the move
© WESSEL DU PLOOy
enquiries about continuing profes- up-to-date with current trends in qual-
sional development requirements ity you may decide to do this through ❱❱ John Davies
for chartered quality professionals. a combination of reading, attending The CQI’s vice-chair is
In order to meet the requirements of branch events or taking courses. retiring from many years’
our Royal Charter we need There are many different ways of service on ISO/TC 176,
to demonstrate we are carrying out CPD. Further ideas could the technical committee
monitoring CPD. be carrying out independent research for ISO 9000. During his
It’s time to review or being mentored by someone with tenure he has overseen
what CQPs need knowledge and skills you want to de- the publication of every edition of
to do and, in- velop. The CQI’s idea of a needs-based ISO 9001.
deed, all other CPD system is not a ‘numbers game’
member grades – when CQI members go on a mas- ❱❱ John Plowman
as well. sive points hunt when the call comes to The Mayor of London, Boris John-
submit evidence. son, has appointed John Plowman
Plan as the chair of the London Sustain-
Forms are Check able Development Commission.
available from At least annually you need to make
the CQI website sure you are on track with your plan. ❱❱ Kevin morris
for you to decide This is an opportunity to make sure it The Society of British Aerospace
and record what your remains valid and that planned CPD Companies has appointed Kevin
professional development has taken place. You may have also Morris as the new aviation and
needs are, how you plan to undertaken some unplanned CPD and environment manager. He will remain
meet them and to record completion. your log should be updated to reflect a member of the International Civil
The idea is, as a profession to decide this. It is sensible to get someone else Aviation Organisation’s committee
what we are going to need to stay up to who knows your job to review your on aviation environmental protec-
date and develop our careers. plan and give you feedback – this tion’s working groups.
Objectives should fall naturally from could be your boss at a performance
what your organisation is doing and the review meeting. Get them to endorse ❱❱ TonY Brown
direction it’s taking. You may also have your CPD records in case they are Tony Brown, chair of the CQI stand-
a long-term goal outside your current called for. ards development group and CQI
organisation. The best way is to start sector head defence, has been ap-
with a long term objective and include act pointed as the ISO/TC 176 and ISO/
medium- and short-term steps towards Based on your review decide whether TC 69 liaison for the development of
achieving the goal. you need to do anything differently. If standards for six sigma.
not you have a stable CPD process!
do If you do decide you need to change ❱❱ DaviD Zimmerman
Once you have decided on your objec- your strategy don’t be disheartened – David Zimmerman is vacating the
tives for learning and development it is it just reflects the ever-changing world post of ISO/TC 176 secretary, to be
a case of planning a way to fulfil them. we live in! replaced by Marc Mitchell, also of
the Canadian Standards Association.
❱❱ miChael Davis
Former managing director of the
please email your useful links Centre for Enterprise Michael Davis
career questions www.cipd.co.uk has joined the UK Commission for
and job moves to www.cpdinstitute.org Employment and Skills as director of
editorial@thecqi.org www.thecqi.org strategy and performance.
56 | APRIL 2009 | qw www.thecqi.org
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