Continuing Professional Development Guidelines

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Continuing Professional Development Guidelines
Table of Contents

Table of Contents .......................................................................................................................................... 2

Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 3

Benefits of CPD .............................................................................................................................................. 3

Demonstrating professional integrity and pride .................................................................................. 3

Assurance of competence to Stakeholders .......................................................................................... 4

Career development .............................................................................................................................. 4

Current practice in CPD ........................................................................................................................ 4

How much CPD is required?................................................................................................................... 4

The CPD Cycle ............................................................................................................................................... 5

Development action plan ..................................................................................................................... 5

Personal development record ........................................................................................................... 6

Evaluation ..................................................................................................................................................... 6

Summary ........................................................................................................................................................... 8

Appendix A - Template of CPD development action plan ................................................................... 9

Appendix B - Template of CPD personal development record ........................................................ 10

Appendix C – Overall CPD Submission Form ...................................................................................... 11

Appendix D - Example subject areas for development ....................................................................... 15

Appendix E - Example development activities ....................................................................................... 19

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Continuing Professional Development Guidelines
Introduction

In its strive to uphold high standards of engineering the Engineers Registration Board has
adopted a policy that requires registered engineering professionals to show that they are
committed to learning and development throughout their engineering career by undertaking
continuing professional development (CPD). This will ensure that engineering professionals keep
their skills, knowledge and experience up to date in order to remain relevant in their field of
practice and they record what they learn and use to carry out their job.

This guidelines explains the importance of CPD and ways to approach it in order for you to
meet annual requirements of renewal of practicing certificates with ERB and to get value out
of CPD activities. This document has to be used with ERB CPD Policy Document
ERB/CPD/Po01. The ERB team is available to offer advice and you can get in touch with
them at +267 3914446 or by email at enquiries@erb.org.bw.

Benefits of CPD
Demonstrating professional integrity and pride
 Engineering professionals are able to demonstrate their professional pride and
integrity by allocating time to developing and maintaining their knowledge and skills
in this competitive field of engineering.

 This culture of learning will enable engineering professionals to take opportunities

to keep their professional competence up to date by taking part in briefings, reading
relevant publications, attending conferences, presentations and courses just to name
a few.

 When engineering professionals apply the CPD cycle of identifying their skills gaps, and
planning how to close them, they will be able to demonstrate their commitment to their
careers and upholding high professional standards.

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Continuing Professional Development Guidelines
Assurance of competence to Stakeholders

 Engineering professionals will be able to demonstrate their level of expertise in

consultancy, planning and delivery of projects to stakeholders through their proficiency
and knowledge of current regulations and effective engineering practice.

Career development

Whether an engineering professional is newly qualified or an experienced individual, planning

ahead helps one to identify the skills, experience and qualifications needed to keep their career
progression. It also helps to maximize on most of learning opportunities. Keeping record of
the learning that happens throughout your career will also assist you in demonstrating your
suitability for future work roles.

Current practice in CPD

The policy defines CPD as:

“the systematic acquisition of knowledge and skills, and the development of personal qualities, to
maintain and enhance professional competence”.

The whole concept involves maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge and
skills, as well as the development of ones’ personal qualities that are required in the execution
of professional and technical duties. CPD requires that professional invest their time in their
own learning and development for their benefit and progression, therefore, it is imperative
for them to ensure that it is effective and value adding.

How much CPD is required?

The ERB policy requires that one accumulate 15 credits of CPD over a period of 3 years. The
minimum that can be accrued in any one year is 3 credits.

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Continuing Professional Development Guidelines

The CPD Cycle

1. Review
Analysis/appraisal

Evidence of
Profile of
competence
competence and
gained
needs

4. Assess and
evaluate 2. Plan
achievement

Personal
Development Development
record action plan

3. Development
activities

Development action plan

To come up with the development action plan it is best that engineering professionals carry out
steps 1 (review) and 2 (plan) of the CPD Cycle. For effectiveness it is best that this activity be
done at least once a year.

Review
This can be achieved by doing the following:
 Review recent performance
 Identify current competencies and areas for further learning and development
 SWOT analysis may be used for this
 In the analysis consider short term and long term development goals; hard (technical)
and soft (behavioral) performance
 Use a holistic approach – also consider employer needs, ERB requirements, societal and

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Continuing Professional Development Guidelines
regulatory needs.
 Appendix D provides examples of other areas that you can consider in
developing your plan

Plan
Following the review and prioritization of need, a plan should be drawn to meet those needs.
Engineering professionals should consider the following:
 Possible activities, resources and timescales
There may be a wide range of resources available to access including 1) advice from
colleagues 2) secondments or assignments, books and journals, the internet, open/
distance learning material, conferences and courses. The cheapest and effective form of
training is on-the-job training.
 Decide on the criteria you will use to evaluate the success of the activity you plan for.
 Use the template – Development action plan in Appendix A.

Personal development record

The personal development record combines the last two activities of the CPD Cycle; Step 3 and
4 (record of CPD activities and their evaluation).

Development activities
There are many activities that can be done geared towards putting the development plan into
practice. Ideas for subjects and activities may be drawn from the list in Appendix E.

In practice there are different types of CPD activities, those that are planned and carried out,
and the unplanned CPD opportunities that can be identified during the course of delivery of
assignments. Both types of CPD are valuable and engineering professionals are encouraged to
explore.

Evaluation
 It is critical that once CPD activities are completed they should be recorded, and more
importantly a reflection on what has been learnt and how it has helped you should also
be indicated. How is this activity helping you to do your job differently?

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Continuing Professional Development Guidelines

 The review of the plan can be done considering the effectiveness and updated where
necessary. CPD may be recorded and evaluated using the personal development record
template in Appendix B.

 Evaluation of performance by employers can also be used to provide CPD documentation

 Other activities that are beyond employer requirement (see Appendix D and E) can
be recorded in the personal development record.

 Appendix C shall be used to record overall activities for submission to ERB together
with Appendix A and B.

It is essential that your CPD records are as effective as possible as they will be required to
demonstrate or as proof of continuing competence for various stakeholders as indicated below.
The records can also be subjected to audit by the Engineers Registration Board as per the CPD
Policy provisions.

Clients set
performance
standards

Employers Government
provide provides
resources and policy
support framework
You set goals,
motivate
yourself and
manage your
CPD

ERB sets and

ERB and
others provide monitors
education and standards and
provides
training
standards advice and
guidance

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Continuing Professional Development Guidelines
Summary

Engineering professionals are required to maintain and enhance their competence through CPD.
They should:
 Take ownership of their learning and development needs, and develop a plan to indicate
how they might meet these, in discussion with their employer, as appropriate.
 Undertake a variety of development activities, both in accordance with their developed
plans and in response to other opportunities which may arise.
 Record their CPD activities.
 More importantly reflect on what they have learned or achieved through their CPD
activities and record these reflections.
 Evaluate their CPD activities against any objectives which they have set and record this
evaluation.
 Review their learning and development plan regularly following reflection and assessment
of future needs.
 Support the learning and development of others through activities such as mentoring, and
sharing professional expertise and knowledge.

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Continuing Professional Development Guidelines
Appendix A - Template of CPD development action plan ERB/CPD/F1.0

Please copy and paste this template into a new word document when submitting your CPD record

Name:
Job role and responsibilities:

Review of learning needs Development plan

Date Ref In what area do I How does this link to What do I need What will I do What are the How will I What are my
need to improve my other objectives (eg to learn in to achieve likely resources evaluate a deadlines for
performance? employer, ERB, etc)? order to achieve this? and support that successful meeting this
this? I will need? outcome? target?

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Continuing Professional Development Guidelines

Appendix B - Template of CPD personal development record ERB/CPD/F2.0

Please copy and paste this template into a new word document when submitting your CPD record

Name:
Job role and responsibilities:

Development activity Evaluation

Details of CPD Dates Effective learning Dev. Plan ref. Key Learning Points Key Further comments:
activity time Benefits/Value Was the plan successful?
added How can I improve it in future?

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Continuing Professional Development Guidelines

Appendix C – Overall CPD Submission Form

Please copy and paste this template into a new word document when submitting your CPD record

ERB/CPD/F3.0
CPD Portfolio for the Annual Cycle ending 31st December, ………….

Please complete and return to: Postal Address Physical Address

P. O. Box 1909, Unit 3, Plot 145
AAD Poso House Kgale Lakeview, Gaborone
Gaborone Tel: +267 391 4446
Botswana Fax: +267 397 3626

Surname: ERB Registration No.:

First Names: Practicing Certificate No.: ___________ Date of Issue: ______________

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Continuing Professional Development Guidelines

1. CATEGORY 1: DEVELOPMENTAL ACTIVITIES: 10 Hours per Credit (Maximum 2 Credits per year)
Provider Duration Verification
(If provider is not a recognized
(Provide proof of
voluntary association or
Date attainment or

Credits Claimed
Name of Activity Activity accredited institution, provide
participation e.g.
name of recognized voluntary

Total hrs.
association approving the activity Certificate or letter)

From
as well)

To
Total Credits for this Activity

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Continuing Professional Development Guidelines
2. CATEGORY 2: WORK-BASED ACTIVITIES:
Provider Duration Verification
(If provider is not a
(Provide proof of
recognized voluntary

Credit Earning

Hours / Credit
attainment or
Name of Activity Date association or accredited

Credits Claimed
Activity institution, provide name of
participation e.g.

recognized voluntary Certificate or

Total hrs.
association approving the letter

From
activity as well)

To
Total Credits for this Activity

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Continuing Professional Development Guidelines
3. CATEGORY 3: Professional Services:
Provider Duration Verification
Activity (If provider is not a
(Provide proof of
recognized voluntary

Credit Earning

Hours / Credit
attainment or
Name of Date association or accredited

Credits Claimed
Activity institution, provide name of
participation e.g.

recognized voluntary Certificate or letter

Total hrs.
association approving the

From

To
activity as well)

Total Credits for this Activity

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Continuing Professional Development Guidelines

Appendix D - Example subject areas for development

This list of subjects and topics will help you identify your development needs. However, this
list isn't exhaustive, and you might be able to include other subjects and topics, provided they
help your development.

Self-Development
 Interpersonal skills
 Leadership and team management
 Decision making
 Stress management
 Time management and delegation skills
 Career development and planning
 Foreign languages
 Professional ethics and rules of conduct

Communication
 Report and letter writing skills
 Interview skills
 Negotiating skills
 Managing meetings
 Information management
 Presentation skills
 In house, to clients, at public meetings

Strategic Management
 Establishing practice strategy and developing business plans
 Improving employer's performance - business improvement
 Health and safety legislation, policy and procedures
 Quality assurance and quality management
 Environmental management
 Employee relations and human resource management
 Diversity management
 Training and development of others

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Technical
 Detail design
 Environmental design/technology/impact analysis
 New design skills
 Procurement - estimates, bids and tenders
 Construction management
 CAD
 Energy efficiency/energy conservation
 New building materials
 New forms of contract and partnering

Legislative
 Regulations
 Contract law
 Health and safety legislation
 Environmental legislation
 Employment legislation
 Different forms of contract - adversarial, partnering

Associated professional areas

 Adjudication
 Architecture
 Arbitration
 Facilities management
 Planning supervision
 Project management
 Quality assurance
 Risk

Working with others

 Team leadership
 Motivation skills
 Negotiation skills
 Delegation skills

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Continuing Professional Development Guidelines
 Managing poor performance
 Performance appraisals

Commercial practice
 Client care and management
 Marketing skills and techniques
 Public relations; dealing with media and VIPs

Information technology
 Information Technology:
 In house systems; external computer services; personal computing skills; specialist
software

Contract management

 Financial planning and management - reporting systems, establishing a budget, cost

control systems, cash flow, profit and loss account, balance sheets, VAT and taxation,
project finance, EU and government grants
 Procurement procedures
 Contract management
 Terms of appointment and contract administration
 Risk management
 Disputes resolution
 FIDIC Contracts

Specialist interest areas

 Urban planning and design
 Energy
 Environment and conservation
 Public sector I municipal
 Research and innovation
 Structural and building surveying
 Transport
 Water

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Continuing Professional Development Guidelines
 Virtual design
 Construction and Building
 Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
 Automobile
 Process Engineering
 Railway
 Electricity generation
 Blasting
 Geotechnics

Health, safety and welfare

 Legislation
 Evaluation of role of Health and Safety Executive
 Personal responsibility for health, safety and welfare
 Confidential Reporting on Structural Safety
 Management of health, safety and welfare in design
 Management of health, safety and welfare on site

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Continuing Professional Development Guidelines
Appendix E - Example development activities

This is a list of example CPD activities. However, it isn't exhaustive, and you may choose to
include other activities as long as they contribute towards your development.

 Learning on the job

 Peer guidance and discussions
 In-house presentations
 Attending trade exhibitions and systematically gathering information and knowledge to
develop as an engineer
 Structured reading (test your understanding of the reading material)
 Work shadowing to add to your stack of knowledge and expertise for routine tasks
 Promoting engineering in primary and secondary schools
 Technical presentations
 Writing reports and writing for publication
 Preparation of CPD presentations to colleagues and other professionals
 Exposure to new situations at work which require action
 Participating in careers conventions
 Job secondments
 Listening to training CDs for research purposes and technical information
 Participating in ERB activities such as acting as a reviewer, a student liaison officer or
 joining a committee where new initiatives and ideas are discussed
 Sharing knowledge and expertise with others
 Allied professional events
 Acting as a coach or mentor for a fellow professional
 Lecturing at organized events
 Research both on the job and for further qualification
 Teaching (for those not in teaching post)
 Self-study through reading text books or study packs
 Personal learning from the internet
 Validated and accredited qualifications
 Formal distance and open-learning courses
 Conferences, seminars and workshops

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