Get more interest with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) - Invest in your
learning bank
Have you ever read a book
that you simply can't put down? Have you raised a subject that causes people to
discuss? Has an intriguing problem hooked you into chasing the perfect decision?
Being interested in your job, your craft or your profession leads you to review,
refresh, and extend your skills and knowledge. Keeping up-to-date and learning new
information keeps you interested in your professional development, and professional
development increases your value to your employer and opens up new opportunities
for career advancement. Membership of The Welding Institute and certification under
the CSWIP schemes both require your commitment to lifelong learning to support your
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Including new courses in your Professional Development Plan (PDP) is a great way
to increase your qualifications and develop new skills but CPD is not just formal
education and training. CPD includes the professional journals and magazines that
you read, seminars and conferences you attend, professional and standards committees
that you contribute to, and soft-skills, management development and language studies
that you engage in; you need to record your CPD to maintain your compliance with
rules and standards.
The Welding and Joining Society (WJS) is the knowledge network of The Welding Institute,
and supports a variety of CPD events and activities, including an annual conference
(18-19 May this year and focusing on the nuclear power sector), regional WJS Branch
events and focused Technical Group seminars with electronic media delivered via
our Global Branch service. All courses delivered by TWI Training
and Examination Services in the UK and overseas qualify as CPD and, being
industry specified and internationally recognised, can contribute greatly to your
professional development.
Like any journey, professional development not only depends on where you intend
going but also where you are starting from, and it is essential that you plan your
route to ensure that your journey is both interesting and effective; learning for
the sake of it can be fun but it is much more rewarding if it delivers your aspirations
and ambitions. The Welding Institute supports its members in planning their professional
development and achieving their career aspirations. For guidance on education, training
and other CPD opportunities, please forward your CV and details of where you would
like to get to and how you might like to achieve it to
twi_professional@twi.co.uk ; we are interested in helping you to enjoy an
interesting and fulfilling career.
EUR ING Chris Eady CEng MRAeS MWeldI
Associate Director, Professional Affairs, The Welding Institute