The document outlines Engineers Ireland's Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Accredited Employer Standard, highlighting its importance for professional growth among engineers and technicians in Ireland. It details the requirements for becoming a CPD accredited employer, including the establishment of a CPD committee and a formal CPD policy, aimed at fostering a culture of continuous learning and innovation. The presentation also emphasizes the benefits of accreditation for both organizations and individual employees, including improved alignment of goals and enhanced career opportunities.

2. continuing professional development
The Engineers Ireland CPD Accredited Employer standard
Presented by Ronan Kearns, B.A, B.A.I, MSc, CEng MIEI
CPD Accreditation Executive
Supported by the Department of Education & Skills
rkearns@engineersireland.ie
The Institution of Engineers of Ireland, Cumann na nInnealtóirí

3. Presentation outline
1. Engineers Ireland introduction
2. What is Engineers Ireland Continuing Professional
Development (CPD) Accredited Employer standard?
3. Next steps?

4. Presentation outline
1. Engineers Ireland introduction
2. What is Engineers Ireland Continuing Professional
Development (CPD) Accredited Employer standard?
3. Next steps?

5. Engineers Ireland introduction
 Ireland‟s 2nd largest professional body - 24,500 members
 Represents engineers and technicians at all levels: cert to PhD
 Strong national framework – 31 regions, divisions & societies
 Work with Government on major national issues
 Our customers? You

6. Presentation outline
1. Engineers Ireland introduction
2. What is the Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Accredited Employer standard?
3. Next step?

7. Moving Ireland up the value chain
Moving engineers up the value chain

8. Irish Government
Moving Ireland up the value chain
Moving engineers up the value chain

9. Employers
Engineers
Ireland
Irish Government
Moving Ireland up the value chain
Moving engineers up the value chain

10. Individual Engineers
Employers
Engineers
Ireland
Irish Government
Moving Ireland up the value chain
Moving engineers up the value chain

11. Definition of Formal CPD
“Formal CPD is planned,
structured activity that
contributes to the rounded,
professional development
of engineers/technician.”
Skills for life for individual engineers/technicians

12. Examples of what formal CPD includes

13. Examples of how formal CPD can be achieved
Total, blended holistic view of CPD

14. Definition of CPD Accreditation
Independent assurance that an
organisation has good systems and
practices in the area of CPD for its
engineers and technical staff
Driving innovative among our leading employers

15. Definition of CPD Accreditation
Independent assurance that an
organisation has good systems and
practices in the area of CPD for its
engineers and technical staff
Driving innovative among our leading employers

16. 17,000 engineers/technicians in Ireland enjoy
working for a CPD Accredited Employer

17. How to become a
CPD Accredited Employer
Mandatory for Accreditation
1. Internal CPD Committee
2. CPD Policy
3. Performance Management & Development System
4. Formal CPD – minimum 5 days average p.a. recorded
5. Mentoring for Professional Development
6. Linkages with Professional Institutions / Learned Bodies
7. Knowledge Sharing activities
8. Evaluation of impact of CPD
www.engineersireland.ie/CPDe-Guide
Recommended advanced practices for each of 8

18. Internal CPD Committee
• Brings together heads from Engineering,
1. HR, Training, Quality, Finance etc
2. • Reports to top management
3.
4.
5. Benefits:
6.
Org: Links CPD & strategy
7.
Individual: Enjoy working in an
8. organisation where CPD is high on top
management agenda

19. Internal CPD Committee
• Brings together heads from Engineering,
1. HR, Training, Quality, Finance etc
2. • Reports to top management
3.
4.
5. Benefits:
6.
Org: Links CPD & strategy
7.
Individual: Enjoy working in an
8. organisation where CPD is high on top
management agenda

20. CPD Policy
• Covers all aspects of CPD
1. • Approved by senior management
2.
• Published and well-communicated to all
3. relevant staff
4.
5. Benefits:
6.
Org: Drives a culture of development and
7. innovation
8. Individual: Clarity of developmental
opportunities

21. CPD Policy
• Covers all aspects of CPD
1. • Approved by senior management
2.
• Published and well-communicated to all
3. relevant staff
4.
5. Benefits:
6.
Org: Drives a culture of development and
7. innovation
8. Individual: Clarity of developmental
opportunities

22. Performance Management & Development
• Organisational strategy clearly
1. communicated at dept and individual level
2. • Each eng/tech has a formal review
3. • Training Needs Analysis / CPD plans
4.
5. Benefits:
6.
Org: Alignment of goals and aims
7.
Individual: Role clarity. Clear „blue print‟ for
8. achieving goals and learning outcomes

23. Performance Management & Development
• Organisational strategy clearly
1. communicated at dept and individual level
2. • Each eng/tech has a formal review
3. • Training Needs Analysis / CPD plans
4.
5. Benefits:
6.
Org: Alignment of goals and aims
7.
Individual: Role clarity. Clear „blue print‟ for
8. achieving goals and learning outcomes

24. Formal CPD – minimum 5 day average p.a.
• Targeted CPD in accordance with
1. individual plans
2. • CPD records maintained
3. • Minimum 5 days CPD average annually
4.
5. Benefits:
6.
Org: Defines organisational capability
7.
Individual: Portfolio of talent; helps in
8. applying for promotions as well as
Professional titles e.g. Chartered Engineer

25. Formal CPD – minimum 5 day average p.a.
• Targeted CPD in accordance with
1. individual plans
2. • CPD records maintained
3. • Minimum 5 days CPD average annually
4.
5. Benefits:
6.
Org: Defines organisational capability
7.
Individual: Portfolio of talent; helps in
8. applying for promotions as well as
Professional titles e.g. Chartered Engineer

26. Mentoring for Professional Development
• The pay-back of Mentoring assessed at all
1. levels
2. • Training for Mentors to work with learners
towards career progression
3.
4.
5. Benefits:
6. Org: Culture and communication; retention
7. Individual: Role models and guidances for
8. learners
Career „rejuvenation‟ for Mentors

27. Mentoring for Professional Development
• The pay-back of Mentoring assessed at all
1. levels
2. • Training for Mentors to work with learners
towards career progression
3.
4.
5. Benefits:
6. Org: Culture and communication; retention
7. Individual: Role models and guidances for
8. learners
Career „rejuvenation‟ for Mentors

28. Hi-fliers preferred development tools
Most
Valuable
Least
Valuable
(Research: Galpin & Skinner)

29. Hi-fliers preferred development tools
Most
Valuable
Coaching
Interpersonal training
Management Development
Technical training
Career counselling
Buddying
Least
Valuable
(Research: Galpin & Skinner)

30. Hi-fliers preferred development tools
Most Mentoring
Valuable Job Rotation
360 degree feedback
Qualifications support
Coaching
Interpersonal training
Management Development
Technical training
Career counselling
Buddying
Least
Valuable
(Research: Galpin & Skinner)

31. “Overall, excellent course.
Very professional with
excellent content and
delivery. Appropriate
practical examples.”
IRISH AIR CORPS
Carried out both in house
and as an open course

32. Professional Institutions / Learned Bodies
• Active participation with relevant, learned
1. bodies / Third Level
2. • Staff supported in achieving the personal
benchmark of a Professional title
3.
4.
5. Benefits:
6. Org: Avoids „negative lock in‟
7. Individual: Networking; Exposure to new
8. practices, materials, innovations;
International recognition of title

33. Professional Institutions / Learned Bodies
• Active participation with relevant, learned
1. bodies / Third Level
2. • Staff supported in achieving the personal
benchmark of a Professional title
3.
4.
5. Benefits:
6. Org: Avoids „negative lock in‟
7. Individual: Networking; Exposure to new
8. practices, materials, innovations;
International recognition of title

34. Knowledge Sharing activities
• Coordinated means of sharing important
1. knowledge across the business
2. • Project close-out reports; Lunch „n‟ Learns
3. A culture of openness and trust
4.
5. Benefits:
6.
Org: Competitive advantage from cross-
7. pollination of ideas and practices
8. Individual: Avoids „re-inventing the wheel‟;
learning from others in a community
atmosphere

35. Knowledge Sharing activities
• Coordinated means of sharing important
1. knowledge across the business
2. • Project close-out reports; Lunch „n‟ Learns
3. A culture of openness and trust
4.
5. Benefits:
6.
Org: Competitive advantage from cross-
7. pollination of ideas and practices
8. Individual: Avoids „re-inventing the wheel‟;
learning from others in a community
atmosphere

36. Evaluation of impact of CPD
• The objectives and intended impact of
1. CPD initiatives are agreed beforehand
2. • Staff agree roles for evaluating success
3.
4. Benefits:
5. Org: Clear return on investment in CPD
6.
Individual: The transfer of learning to
7. workplace application is clear
8.

37. Evaluation of impact of CPD
• The objectives and intended impact of
1. CPD initiatives are agreed beforehand
2. • Staff agree roles for evaluating success
3.
4. Benefits:
5. Org: Clear return on investment in CPD
6.
Individual: The transfer of learning to the
7. workplace application is clear
8. Staff reflect on their knowledge intake

38. • Mandatory x 8 Criteria
Essential for Accreditation
Employers of more than 100
• Advisory Best Practices x 2 Criteria
engineering professionals
Organisations with a rapid rate of • Advisory Best Practices x 2 Criteria
change
www.engineersireland.ie/CPDe-Guide

39. Essential for Accreditation
Advisory Best Practice
9. Postgraduate Education activity
Employers of more than
100 engineering professionals 10. Competency Frameworks / Talent Management
Large organisations
11. Advanced Knowledge Management practices
with a rapid rate of change
12. Fostering Creativity & Innovation

40. Presentation outline
1. Engineers Ireland introduction
2. What is Engineers Ireland Continuing Professional
Development (CPD) Accredited Employer standard?
3. Next step?

41. Support from Engineers Ireland
• Consultancy in the area of best practice CPD systems
– An expert team, all with industry backgrounds, to advise you
• Dr. John Butler, Chartered Engineer, FIEI, CPD & HR Director
• Aidan Harney, CPD & HR Director, MIITD
• Michael Hayden, Special Advisor, FIEI / former M.D. of ESBI
• Dee Kehoe, Manager CPD Accredited Employer scheme , Chartered
FCIPD
• Catherine Sullivan, CPD Executive, MIITD
• Ronan Kearns, CPD Executive, CEng MIEI
– FREE 12 Chapters in on-line e-Guide:
www.engineersireland.ie/CPDe-Guide

42. Your own support system
• Senior management buy-in and support is VITAL
• Form a CPD Project team, with a senior ‘sponsor’
• Work closely with Engineers Ireland CPD Accredited
Employer standard rep to implement 8+ criteria

43. Employers that inspire!

44. Benefits
 Framework: Connects disparate learning & development / HR / Training
& Development activities into a coherent CPD framework
 Aligns overall mission with departmental goals and individual CPD plans
 Promotes a vibrant sense of innovation and return-on-investment from
CPD initiatives
 Highly cost-effective Government co-funded partnership

45. Presentation outline
1. Engineers Ireland introduction
2. What is Engineers Ireland Continuing Professional
Development (CPD) Accredited Employer standard?
3. Next steps?

46. CPD Accredited Employer standard
Sign-up Implementation Submission Accreditation
 Agree to move forward  Review your CPD Satisfy Criteria:  Accreditation Panel
with Engineers Ireland systems Visit
 CPD as Basic Company  Ensure that they fulfil 1-8 Mandatory  Formal Approval
Objective each of the Engineers
 Assign investment & Ireland‟s accreditation 9-12 Advisory
resources criteria

47. “CPD has helped us retain capabilities here in Galway
and attract a multi-million R&D facility. It remains a
cornerstone of our operations.”
Declan Slemon, Director, Boston Scientific Galway
CPD Company of the Decade, 1998-2008
Email: Thank you
rkearns@engineersireland.ie