TE7073 - Academic Recognition for Continuing Professional Development

What will I learn on this module?

The module will enable you to gain academic credit from your CPD, such as short courses, conferences, workshops, one-to one coaching etc. which is not currently credit-rated by the University.

Many people working in both the public and private sector undertake continuing professional development (CPD) as part of their work, either on a voluntary or compulsory basis. Often this is required for membership of their relevant professional body or it can be simply through a desire to keep abreast of developments in their field of work.
You will negotiate a learning proposal which identifies the areas that you would like to develop and the learning activities that you will need to undertake to meet your development needs. In addition, your learning proposal will include consideration of how you will reflect upon your learning and how you will report this for assessment and will also include an Action Plan/Timeline for completion.

You will attend a learning event or events lasting the equivalent of at least nine days/72 hours. You will participate in the event(s) in whatever way is appropriate and intended by the organisers.

You will produce a portfolio to provide evidence of the learning gained from your experiences. You will evaluate your learning and reflect upon it with respect to your current and future personal development needs.

How will I learn on this module?

You will learn through lectures, seminars and independent learning. As part of your learning and development on this module, you will carry out certain task/activities:

A) A Learning Proposal:
Students will negotiate a learning Proposal with their academic supervisor and workplace mentor (where appropriate) which will identify:
1. The areas for their development*
2. The learning activity to be undertaken to meet their development needs. *
3. The process by which they will reflect on this learning and the method by which they will report this
4. An Action Plan/Timeline for completion
* Some learners may already be some way through this process prior to
enrolment. In such cases the academic tutor will need to be reassured that
the learning activity being pursued is of a relevant HE level and volume.

B) The CPD Learning Activity
Students will attend a learning event or events lasting the equivalent of at least nine full days/72 hours. They will participate in the event(s) in whatever way is appropriate and intended by the organisers. Examples are: a short fulltime management course; a manufacturer's equipment course; one-to one coaching; workshops; conferences including such elements as papers, discussions and plenaries; etc.
C) Evidence of reflection on learning Students will produce a portfolio to provide evidence of the learning gained from their experiences as follows:
1) Personal details, needs analysis and the learning contract.
2) A factual account of the learning event, giving appropriate detail of the proceedings and summarising the material presented.
3) A brief assessment of the effectiveness of the event as a learning experience
4) An evaluation of the student's own learning, and considering how the learning gained relates to the student's own work situation and personal development. This analysis should demonstrate understanding of the facts, principles, opinions and skills acquired, explain how the knowledge and skills gained build upon current competence and how these have been/ will be applied to. own work. In addition, it should show how their understanding of the knowledge gained is based upon relevant and up to date theory. Guidance on reflective practice and portfolio construction will be provided via Blackboard and on-line / face to face tutor support.

How will I be supported academically on this module?

Support will include feedback from tutors during lectures, seminars and tutorials. In addition, tutors will respond to questions via the modules’ discussion board on the University’s eLearning Portal so that the whole group can benefit.

What will I be expected to read on this module?

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

What will I be expected to achieve?

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. A critical understanding of CPD and reflective practice and your role in your development as practitioner.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
1. Produce a learning proposal which identifies the learning to be undertaken, justifying CPD activity in relation to your job role, own development and wider needs of the organisation/sector.
2. Produce a record of the CPD undertaken including evidence of attendance, information and specialist knowledge gathered.
3. Critically analyse the facts, principles, concepts, opinions and skills acquired which will include addressing relevant ethical, commercial, confidential and data protection issues
4. Critically appraise how the knowledge and skills gained build upon current competence and how these have been/ will be applied in order to manage complexities and dilemmas.
5. Critically evaluate how mastery of knowledge gained draws upon relevant, up to date and complex academic theory and models, and the assumptions underlying them, and extending into the wider context of the area of
practice
6. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of the CPD activity including impact outside the immediate context of the workplace.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
1. Enhanced your communication skills through teaching and learning activities and in their summative assessment and their team working skills which will be evidenced in your portfolio of evidence which is part of your summative assessment.
2. Further developed their project management skills
3 Enhanced your problem-solving skills which will be evidenced in your reflective discussion your summative assessment.

How will I be assessed?

Formative:
You will be set various tasks/activities/discussions throughout the module to support you in the development of your portfolio and your reflective practice.

Feedback:
You will be provided with verbal feedback from tutors and peers

Summative:
You will produce a portfolio of evidence and a reflective commentary which reflects on personal and professional development, intellectual growth and journey of learning.
(4500 words)

MLOs: KU1: IPSA 1-6; PVA 1, 4 & 5

Feedback:
You will receive written, graded feedback against the criteria and the elaborated marking scale.

Pre-requisite(s)

None

Co-requisite(s)

None

Module abstract

Many people working in both the public and private sector undertake continuing professional development (CPD) as part of their work, either on a voluntary or compulsory basis. Often this is required for membership of their relevant professional body or it can be simply through a desire to keep abreast of developments in their field of work.

The module will enable you to gain academic credit from your CPD, such as short courses, conferences, workshops, one-to one coaching etc. which is not currently credit-rated by the University.

You will negotiate a learning proposal which identifies the areas that you would like to develop and the learning activities that you will need to undertake to meet your development needs. In addition, your learning proposal will include consideration of how you will reflect upon your learning.

You will attend a learning event or events lasting the equivalent of at least nine days/72 hours. You will participate in the event(s) in whatever way is appropriate and intended by the organisers.
You will produce a portfolio to provide evidence of the learning gained from your experiences. You will evaluate your learning and reflect upon it with respect to your current and future personal development needs.

Course info

Credits 30

Level of Study Postgraduate

Mode of Study 1 year Full Time
2 other options available

Department Social Work, Education and Community Wellbeing

Location Coach Lane Campus, Northumbria University

City Newcastle

Start September 2025

Fee Information

Module Information

All information is accurate at the time of sharing. 

Full time Courses are primarily delivered via on-campus face to face learning but could include elements of online learning. Most courses run as planned and as promoted on our website and via our marketing materials, but if there are any substantial changes (as determined by the Competition and Markets Authority) to a course or there is the potential that course may be withdrawn, we will notify all affected applicants as soon as possible with advice and guidance regarding their options. It is also important to be aware that optional modules listed on course pages may be subject to change depending on uptake numbers each year.  

Contact time is subject to increase or decrease in line with possible restrictions imposed by the government or the University in the interest of maintaining the health and safety and wellbeing of students, staff, and visitors if this is deemed necessary in future.

 

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