THE CPD STANDARDS RESEARCH PROJECT

2024

The initial cpd research behind the cpd standards office

Where it all began for the CPD Standards Office

The CPD Research, perhaps the largest in scale academic review of CPD best practices was the reason we found The CPD Standards Office. To find out about the initial work and about everone involved, please click here.

GET INVOLVED

The 2023 research study will be conducted over an 18-month period and will collate a mixture of quantitative and qualitative data streams from a wide range of stakeholders within the CPD arena, including:

The Learners: Professionals, Young People and Members of Professional Bodies.

The Providers: Employers, Training, Coaching and Online Educators.

The Bodies: Regulators and Professional Institutes.


Learners
Survey #110 minutes

- and -

Post 3 months: Survey #2 10 minutes
I'M IN!

Sign Up

Let us know if you're happy for us to email you a link to the survey. Emails and survey responses will not be matched to retain the anonymity of the survey results.

Training Providers

Survey #110 minutes

- or -

Semi Structured Interviews50 minutes
I'LL PARTICIPATE

Let us know

Let us know that you're interested in participating, and we'll be in touch with more details soon.

Professional Bodies
Survey #110 minutes

- and either of the below options -

Semi Structured Interviews50 minutes
Online Focus      Group1 hour
I'LL PARTICIPATE

Let us know

Let us know that you're interested in participating, and we'll be in touch with more details soon.

SUPPORTING ORGANISATIONS

The Open University is a key supporter for the 2023 and 2024 CPD Research Project.

These organisations helped shaped the CPD Research that began in 2012 and have contributed significantly to the shaping of the CPD standards that we at The CPD Standards Office use to accredit high quality training.

Please note that the CPD Standards Research is a longitudinal, independent research project and was founded back in 2012. Professional institutes, regulators and employers are electing to voluntarily take part and contribute to the research project.

The CPD Standards Office does not have any direct or contractual relationships with any organisation participating in the research project, nor are they formally affiliated or classified as an accredited CPDSO provider.


Over the past decade, the context in which we learn has profoundly changed. The fabric of our everyday lives is now intertwined with technology, hybrid working and career uncertainty. In a post-pandemic world, our understanding of professional development and lifelong learning has evolved with a growing dependency on online and digital training.


Yet the choice of training, coaching and online education is overwhelming, with thousands of companies and individuals offering CPD learning activities across different subjects and industries. Many providers create training experiences using traditional methods and evaluation procedures, yet in this changing digital world, it is likely that learning styles and preferences have changed.


WHAT IS CPD?

CPD or ‘Continuing Professional Development’ is simply about ongoing learning to keep up to date at work. We define CPD as:

"

A simple, structured approach to lifelong learning.CPD is an ongoing process of intentionally developing your knowledge, skills, and competence to be the best you can be at work and in your role.

"

CPD in 2024

The 2024 study explores CPD learning, professionalism and professional standards. Asking big questions, such as does technology drive our learning?

It will review how everyday training practices can be improved to raise the bar and enable individuals to get the most out of their CPD and lifelong learning. In turn, collectively creating a competent, high-performing workforce.


THE BRILLIANCE OF CPD

Every day is a CPD day.

Anyone and everyone undertake CPD daily, often without realising it. As humans, we are naturally inquisitive and seek to find solutions and answers to everyday challenges.

As CPD is an ongoing practice rather than a one-off activity, it operates through the complete personalisation of learning. We are in the driving seat when it comes to our ongoing professional education, and as a result, CPD is available to improve every skill and increase all career success.


OUR BIG QUESTIONS


CPD Learning Experiences and Careers

What value do young people and professionals associate with CPD?


What are the relationships between CPD, employability and salary/remuneration?


How do we create ‘good CPD habits’ to forge successful careers?

The Influence of Technology on CPD Learning

How will artificial intelligence and chatbots change learning?


What is the effectiveness and learning impact of face-to-face, digital, and virtual learning experiences?


How has technology shaped blended learning? What are the ingredients of a successful blended experience?

Professional Development Policy and Standards

How are professional standards defined in 2024?


What are the relevant criteria to accredit different types of CPD learning?


What are the best frameworks for creating positive and successful learning experiences?


MORE INFORMATION

Despite it being a common practice in many professions, CPD continues to be an area that has received surprisingly little attention from the academic community, with a dearth of scientific evidence available. This raises questions about the long-held beliefs and assumptions on learning impact, efficacy, individual competence and across professional communities.


Launched in 2010, the CPD Research Project was the first major scientific study that focused on the role of CPD (Continuing Professional Development) within individual professionals ‘lives’, organisational environments, and professional communities.



Based within the field of industrial and occupational psychology, it analysed individual employee perceptions of CPD and captured scientific data which confirmed the effectiveness of a range of professional development training activities. It also explored CPD policies and initiatives championed by professional institutes and regulators and identified challenges and flaws in how we undertake lifelong learning.


            Thank you

Stay up to date

Updates and communications about the research project will be published here, and we will report key findings as they emerge from the research.

A whitepaper capturing insights, findings and implications for policy and standards will be published in Spring 2024.