Continuing professional development (CPD) will be an integral part of your career. Establishing good practice in your CPD early in your career will put you on the right path for continued lifelong learning.
The benefits of CPD
To stay relevant, you need to keep your skills, knowledge and experience up to date, record what you learn and apply this in your work. Engaging in CPD is one way of giving structure to this process, and it brings many benefits.
Learn more about the benefits of CPD, for yourself and others.
Choosing different types of CPD
There are many different types of CPD and you should aim to undertake a wide range. Identify the CPD you need to complete, act on this and then reflect. The Society takes a broad view of the activities that can support the professional development of geographers. You should aim to demonstrate a range of activities that go beyond your 'day job'.
These may range from formal training courses to on-the-job and self-directed learning, offering or receiving mentoring and coaching, consultancy and expert advice, writing for publication, participating in conferences, workshops, presentations and discussions, and promoting geography.
Learn more about choosing the right mix of CPD, whether internal or external, and self-directed or interactive.
Using the CPD cycle effectively to develop your career
It is your responsibility, with support from your employer where appropriate, to identify your learning needs and undertake appropriate CPD to maintain and develop the professional knowledge, skills and competence you need for your work. You are likely to do this through a combination of formal and informal learning opportunities, inside and outside your workplace.
The CPD cycle can help you to identify, plan complete and reflect upon the right types of CPD to maintain and develop the professional skills, knowledge and competence you need for your work.
Learn more about how the CPD cycle can help you develop your career.
The Chartered Geographer CPD Record template and Framework of Competencies may also support you in recording and reflecting on your CPD.
Be a better learner by reflecting on your development
A key part of learning and developing yourself professionally is thinking about what worked and what you might want to develop in the future. Your annual record of CPD should ideally include a short reflection on how your CPD has had an impact on your professional development and career growth, in particular how it helped you develop skills and knowledge to improve your practice. Future CPD should build on what you have learned and achieved to date.
By reflecting on your CPD as a whole, you are putting your learning to work for you. Learn more about how to undertake reflective practice as part of your CPD and career development.