Continuous Professional Development
Jane Littlehales, OUCS
Workshop for 5th ITSS Conference, 29 June 2000
You First
- What do you think CPD is?
- Why do you want to do it?
- What would you like to 'count' as CPD?
- Who do you expect to organise it?
- Who do you expect to direct it?
- Who do you expect to pay for it?
Oxford ITSS CPD Scheme
- Launched at this Conference
- Based on BCS scheme x 4
| Examined courses |
4 |
| Other courses |
3 |
| Seminars |
2 |
| Self study |
2 |
| Write paper |
20 |
| Present talk |
20 |
| Other |
2 |
Oxford ITSS CPD Scheme
- Forms to fill in and keep in log book
- Official stamp to verify
- Or manager or colleagues or own signature
- Assessed centrally once a year
- Certificates and awards presented
- Aim is at least 80 points per year
Skills Framework for the Information Age
- ITNTO
- Respected and recognised
- But suffering from lack of funding
- Based on Roles and Levels
- Each person fits several roles at different levels
Uses
- Validates current position
- Covers diverse nature of many jobs
- See progression when is no obvious career path or promotion
- See skills gaps and possibilities
- Compare roles and levels across boundaries, units, specialisations
In Oxford
- SFIA to give talk in Autumn
- Need to understand matrix and implementation
- Co-ordinators, supervisors and participants
- Annual recap
- Fit in with CPD assessment
Putting it into Practice
- www.sfia.org.uk
- Lots of things to download
- Individuals to find themselves and record
- Manager or colleague to verify
- Strive for accuracy before ego boost
- Look for gaps and lines of progression
Both CPD and SFIA emphasise your
- Professionalism
- Commitment
- Initiative
- Self motivation
They may influence …
- Pay
- Grading
- Promotion
- Perks
- Training opportunities
- Extra funding for equipment or materials
- Need for additional staff
But …
- Individual effort
- To learn schemes
- Assess yourself
- Convince manager
- Keep the enthusiasm
BCS
- Still the only professional organisation for computer professionals
- Even if they aren't sure that we are computer professionals!
- May be addressed soon
- Would it make you more interested in joining BCS?
Conclusions
- Professionalism in IT Support still in its infancy
- Lack of recognition in University and elsewhere
- We need to stand up for ourselves
- Aim to be Librarians
- All librarians in Library Association