Overview

The Institute for Learning (IfL)’s definition of continuing professional development (CPD) is deliberately broad and includes both qualifications and all other types of learning. Although these questions on learning (taken from the IfL website) are for staff who teach and train, they also apply to people in other roles, such as managing or supporting learning:

• Have you undertaken professional development activities this year?
• Have you reflected on the learning you have gained from these activities?
• Have the activities and the reflection made a difference to how you teach or train?
• Can you show evidence of this difference and the impact it has made to learners, colleagues or the organisation in which you work?

The value of non-accredited training lies in the difference it makes to staff in their role. Although each person may be required to record a different number of hours of CPD, the total amount of non-accredited activity is less important than the quality of that activity.