Formal and informal CPD

Formal CPD

Formal CPD involves participating in organised activities, e.g. courses, seminars, workshops, conferences and panel/group meetings, with appropriate content for chartered secretaries and where attendance can be evidenced. Courses can be undertaken face to face, online or via other electronic delivery.

Some examples of formal CPD activities include:

  • Completing or participating in a structured activity either as a delegate, speaker, panel member or other participant. This includes but is not limited to conferences, seminars, training courses (classroom, online), workshops, panels and group meetings.
  • Participation in staff development training courses/activities provided by employers
  • Sharing professional knowledge in a formal setting
  • Writing relevant books, articles and papers
  • Lecturing, teaching and addressing meetings on relevant subject matter
  • Being an examiner or being involved in professional or higher education that is relevant.

Informal CPD

Informal CPD involves activities undertaken by the individual, like experiential/workplace learning, reading and research. It can be difficult to gain third party evidence for informal CPD, so the Institute advises keeping individual records and completing a self-evaluation sheet. Some examples of informal CPD activities are shown below.

Personal study/research

  • Webinars
  • Reading, researching information via the internet, reviewing books or articles for professional purposes
  • Experiential/workplace learning, reading and research
  • Reading G+C magazine
  • Reading a book or publication from The Chartered Governance Institute 
  • Reading other professional body magazines
  • Reading other relevant publications, e.g. business journals
  • Professional research undertaken in the course of work
  • Preparation of research for workplace projects
  • Workplace learning/support
  • Coaching, mentoring, peer review, work shadowing/secondments, meetings or project work
  • Participation as a Community Champion or Subject Expert with the Institute

Professional research undertaken in the course of work

  • Preparation research for projects in the workplace

Workplace learning/support

  • Coaching, mentoring, peer review, work shadowing/secondments, meetings or project work
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