| The systematic maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge and skills, and the development of personal qualities necessary for the execution of professional and technical duties throughout the working life. It is a lifelong learning approach to planning, managing and benefiting from own development. Professional development helps to:
- Maintain and enhance the employee competence in the workplace
- Ensure the employee is competitive in the job market
- Demonstrate commitment to personal development
- Have a useful intellectual challenge
Professional development is the means by which professionals maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge and skills and develop the personal qualities required in their working lives. There are many routes which include:
- Attending meetings, conferences and seminars
- Training workshops and knowledge sharing
- Distance and open learning programmes
- Reading books, journals and publications in various fields
- Involvement in community activities such as mentoring, communities of practice
By implementing a professional development plan, a learning organization purpose is to strengthening weaker skill sets and knowledge areas. Professional development activities provide practitioners with the training, knowledge, and networking opportunities they need to advance in their career development. [1] See also: Learning Organizations. |
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT