Continuing Professional Development (CPD) in Tier 4 of the Agricultural Reform Programme: A consultation

Section 7: Encouraging the uptake of CPD

This section of the consultation looks at how we could encourage the uptake of CPD.

Supporting CPD and recognising its importance for personal, professional and business development

We know that there are varying attitudes to CPD. We recognise that need to present and promote it in ways that resonate with the agriculture sector and encourage the participation and use of the CPD system and create a culture of CPD.

We could encourage this through a variety of ways. These could include news releases, case studies, webinars, events (for example as part of Farm Advisory Service). These would be helpful in encouraging wider awareness of CPD and helping to create a culture of CPD.

In addition to these, guidance will also be needed to support individual users of the CPD system. This will be key in understanding how the system is to be used.

Encouraging the uptake of CPD

Our engagement with farmers and crofters has let us see that not everyone approaches CPD in the same way. There are some who say that they do not undertake CPD though we know in practice that they are. There are “hard to reach” farmers and crofters. The same individuals turn up all the time at events. There are individuals who look on it as something that they have to do, or as a tick-box exercise. There are others who wholly embrace it and recognise its benefits.

We would like to encourage a greater uptake of CPD in the agriculture sector. We know that if we introduced a voluntary CPD system that it may be more difficult to achieve.

Question 40: How do we encourage the uptake of CPD especially where it is voluntary to undertake?

Please state your answer.