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Continuing Professional Development
The CPD Framework
Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities
at Canbourne are offered across our range of highly
vocational subject areas. As well as specialist CPD
courses (for the legal profession, for example), we
offer the CPD Framework.
The CPD Framework has been designed to provide flexible,
easy access to the University's wide range of
postgraduate study areas.
The key to the success of the CPD Framework is
flexibility: you choose the subjects to suit your needs
and interests and you set the pace of learning.
You do not need to have a first degree to study. Work
experience and other previous qualifications count and
may well gain you credit under the
AP(E)L system
(accreditation for prior learning)
The CPD Framework provides access to vocational,
part-time learning, while earning you a transferable and
recognised qualification.
The CPD Framework is for:
People
wanting to
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improve their career prospects
-
change career paths
-
gain recognition for past work experience
-
gain a recognised qualification
-
study a subject at a high level for enjoyment.
Employers
wanting to
-
provide a structured staff development programme for
employees
-
provide recognised credit-bearing CPD (continuing
professional development) opportunities
-
gain access up-to-date and specialised training
opportunities for employees
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How It Works
Study is undertaken at your (the learner's) own pace and
is taken as far as you choose. That may be to a
Postgraduate Certificate or as far as a Masters degree.
Most people looking for part-time study to help with
their careers, are also working and may well have a busy
family life to consider. With the CPD Framework you sign
up for what you feel you can commit to and take it step
by step, unit by unit.
Each subject unit you study carries a number of 'Masters
level credits'. Successful completion of a unit will
earn you recognised credits.
Helped by a Personal Proctor, you set your own study
plan, selecting units from across the University's
academic Schools. You will also be able to plan a
work-based project to earn up to 30 credits.
The Credit System
In the UK, higher education institutions use a
recognised and standard system of accreditation. At
postgraduate, or masters level, each unit successfully
completed earns the student a number of credits.
Different qualifications are awarded according to the
number of credits earnt:
At Canbourne University, the CPD Framework allows
students to work towards a qualification, of their
chosen level, in Professional Vocational Development.
Each subject - or unit - studied carries a minimum of 15
credits, with some units attracting 60 credits.
Credit for prior learning
The University has a well-defined system for accrediting
prior learning, that is, awarding credit for learning
you have already done. This may have been at another
University or college, at a training college or even in
the work-place.
To find out if you can benefit from AP(E)L
(accreditation for prior learning), contact the CPD team
on Canbourne.
Email:
cpd@uofrcanbourne.org.uk
Learning at work is an important aspect of the CPD
Framework and undertaking a project at work could earn
up you university recognised credits. You might chose to
take on a new project at work and make that part of your
study plan, or it may be part of your current activities
form the basis of your work based project.
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Questions & Answers
How long will it take?
This will depend on your own objectives. Most people
undertaking part-time study have other commitments -
work, family and home, for example. You can stop and
start your studies according to your circumstances.
As an example, if you chose to work towards a
postgraduate certificate (60 credits), you will
undertake the core CPD/Study Skills Unit plus 2 units of
your own choice and a work based learning project, all
earning 15 credits each. A unit will typically take one
term (12 weeks) to complete.
So, you might enrol in June and start the CPD Study
Skills unit. In September you would undertake your first
subject unit, the second in January. This would take you
through to April. Finishing with your work-based
learning project, you could complete your postgraduate
certificate in just over a year.
How much will it cost?
There are two fixed costs to bear in mind.
Registration fee: £100.00
CPD Study Skills: £250.00
Thereafter, the cost of your study will vary according
to the units you select.
I started a degree years ago, but didn't complete it.
Would this earn me credits?
It is possible that any previous study you have
undertaken will be taken into consideration as will your
work experience. In the student application pack you
will find full information on how to get all your
learning-to-date taken into account.
I don't really need/want a qualification, but would like
to study a particular subject to bring my skills up to
date. Can I do this?
Yes. You may chose to study one, two or more units for
their own sake. Successful completion of the units will
earn you credits as you go along anyway, but is not a
requirement of the programme.
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