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Continuous Professional Development

Jane LittlehalesOUCS

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You FirstWhat 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?

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Oxford ITSS CPD SchemeLaunched at this ConferenceBased on BCS scheme x 4

Examined courses 4Other courses 3Seminars 2Self study 2Write paper 20Present talk 20Other 2

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Oxford ITSS CPD SchemeForms to fill in and keep in log bookOfficial stamp to verify

Or manager or colleagues or own signature

Assessed centrally once a yearCertificates and awards presentedAim is at least 80 points per year

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Skills Framework for the Information Age

ITNTOWith lots of others

Respected and recognisedBut suffering from lack of funding

Based on Roles and LevelsEach person fits several roles at different levels

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UsesValidates current positionCovers diverse nature of many jobsSee progression when is no obvious career path or promotionSee skills gaps and possibilitiesCompare roles and levels across boundaries, units, specialisations

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In OxfordSFIA to give talk in AutumnNeed to understand matrix and implementationCo-ordinators, supervisors and participantsAnnual recap

Fit in with CPD assessment

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Putting it into Practicewww.sfia.org.uk

Lots of things to download

Individuals to find themselves and recordManager or colleague to verify

Strive for accuracy before ego boost

Look for gaps and lines of progression

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Both CPD and SFIA emphasise your

ProfessionalismCommitmentInitiativeSelf motivation

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They may influence …PayGradingPromotionPerksTraining opportunitiesExtra funding for equipment or materialsNeed for additional staff

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But …Individual effort

To learn schemesAssess yourselfConvince managerKeep the enthusiasm

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BCSStill the only professional organisation for computer professionalsEven if they aren’t sure that we are computer professionals!

E.g. no SIG

May be addressed soonWould it make you more interested in joining BCS?

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ConclusionsProfessionalism in IT Support still in its infancyLack of recognition in University and elsewhereWe need to stand up for ourselvesAim to be Librarians

All librarians in Library Association

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