Continuing Professional Development Programs in 5 European Countries

Abstract

Four professional engineering organizations in Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania have joined efforts to promote continuing professional development in engineering companies following the exampleof the Institution of Engineers Ireland. Over the past decade EngineersIreland and the Irish Government have co-financed and developed amodel which employers of engineering professionals can use to connect disparate training, learning & development initiatives under abest-practices umbrella. In essence, the standard provides a framework for employers to support good practices in the area of lifelonglearning for engineers and technicians.It is designed to reflect andreward the ever-changing environments in which engineering andtechnical professionals work and learn. Five case studies from participating companies are presented and conclusions are drawn about thepossibility of using it in other countries.Participants will engage inthe utilization of the procedures in a concrete case during the session.