MRS Continuing Professional Development
At the MRS AGM in September 2012 Jane Frost announced plans to introduce CPD to the members. It is being launched on 2nd April.
Why CPD?
The benefits to participants could be significant:
- It should signal a higher level of professionalism and seriousness and differentiate us from those outside the MRS
- It would demonstrate that we have a commitment to maintain and improve standards
- It will improve overall skills and expertise
CPD linked to new membership tiers
The key features of the programme include:
- A change of membership titles, moving from four to three:
- Associate or Affiliate becomes ‘Member’
- Full Member becomes ‘Certified Member’
Fellow remains the same
CPD can be a component of a ‘Member’s’ qualification to ‘Certified Member’. There are now ten routes to ‘Certified Member’.
CPD requirements and tools
Certified Members will be expected to complete annually 21 hours of CPD (or 18 if attended courses from either MRS or accredited providers). At this stage involvement will be non- compulsory. The MRS will provide a CPD badge for use on their website. To be effective this will have to be available to all participating individuals, not companies.
The MRS will provide access to an online personalised CPD Tool. This will assist in planning each person’s programme and recording progress. It will be structured into four sections:
- Planning
- Learning and development
- Evaluate and reflect
- Tracking progress
Programme details
It is the intention that the cost can be minimal or “As near to free as possible”. All MRS events qualify and some are free. The ICG will become an accredited provider and so, for example, our webinars will earn CPD hours at no cost.
Other accredited providers will include AURA, AQR, RSS, BIG, BHBIA, and the SRA.
The activities that are eligible for CPD hours include
- Studying for a Qualification
- Attendance at relevant training courses and workshops
- Attendance at Conferences, Seminars and Webinars
- Attendance at a Members’ Evening or Networking Event
- Research Aid
- Private study
- Mentoring (although no details are provided about this initiative)
The list is broad and it would appear to include any relevant activity that contributes to the knowledge and experience of the member and probably not project or client based.
What are the Implications for the ICG?
First thoughts is that it can only be positive:
- It better showcases the qualifications and expertise of individuals, not companies
- It can make the ICG very relevant to independents not currently members
- It provides an opportunity to ‘sell’ our training expertise to other groups within the research industry.
It would be interesting to hear ICG members' thoughts either through the Opinion section (please contact Alison Lyon), or via the egroup.