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The training courses run by GGP Systems have been validated
by the Association of Geographic Information (AGI) for Continuous Professional
Development Scheme (CPD) points
If you work in the geographic information industry then your
role is a professional one with the expectation that you will work in ways that
are seldom written down but that are vital to your job role. One of these
expectations is that you will be up to date in your knowledge of the field and
have appropriate skills for any tasks that you are engaged in. In almost
all professions these expectations are met by way of a formal or informal CPD
scheme.
The AGI scheme is a straightforward one, designed
specifically to allow Chartered Geographer (GIS) status to be achieved and
retained. Its key features are:
Availability
The AGI CPD scheme is open to all members of the Association who wish to work towards securing
or retaining Chartered Geographer (GIS) status. There are no additional
costs attached to following the AGI's CPD scheme over and above the necessary
membership rates and the administrative costs associated with applying for
CGeog status.
Registration
All CGeog applications and submissions/assessments of CPD
are carried out by the RGS-IBG, in collaboration with specially appointed AGI assessors who are experts in
their field and who themselves hold Chartered Geographer status.
Mechanism
When you sign up for this scheme, you commit yourself to
undertake at least 35 hours of professional development activity each
year. Total CPD activity should be made up of 20 hours external and 15
hours internal training/professional development.
GGP Systems offer a range of training courses that will
enable you to add CPD points to your personal log:
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3 points
7 points
4
points
7 points
4 points
4 points
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Validation
Each year your CPD log should be submitted to the RGS-IBG
for assessment. Acknowledgement will be given for time on the task and
can be accumulated through:
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formal events
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interactive training and development
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qualifications
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on the job development
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courses of study
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presentations and publications
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professional meetings
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working groups
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special interest groups and panels
However, validation will also consider the quality of CPD,
not just the quantity. The validation criteria used to assess CPD will
include, for example, how well the activity fits with your stated career
development plan, its relevance to the specifics of the GI industry, how well
it furthers your own personal development, and so on. As part of the
validation process, the RGS-IBG in collaboration with the AGI may carry out
random tests on the veracity of the presented materials.
Development Opportunities
AGI runs a number of seminars, regional meetings, workshops,
and briefing sessions, as well as the biggest annual GI conference and
exhibition in Europe. We are committed
to maintaining and increasing the number and quality of these events and all
will be CPD accredited.
Balance and Relevance
Although the minimum 35 units in each year can be made up of
any number of activities (provided 20 are from external and 15 are from
internal activities), RGS-IBG and AGI insists that each year's submission has a
reasonable mixture of activities. We also strongly suggest that they are
relevant to your personal development plan.
Benefits
CPD has benefits to:
- the individual
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the employer
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the organisation
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the industry
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the community at large
For an individual, CPD offers the opportunity to take hold
of their career and develop their own direction.
To the employer, encouraging employees to undertake CPD can
be a major plank in their staff development and assessment programmes.
To an organisation, it offers a means by which existing
practices can be changed for the better, for example by incorporation of
emerging new specialisms, quality assurance procedures, and technologies.
For the industry it offers the prospect of a motivated,
qualified and up to date workforce.
It will also assist the AGI in achieving its mission aim: to
maximise the use of geographic information for the benefit of the citizen, good
governance and commerce.
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