OVERVIEW OF CPE IN THE USAOVERVIEW OF CPE IN THE USA

Speech at ‘Continuing Professional Speech at ‘Continuing Professional Development: Towards Effective Practice’ Development: Towards Effective Practice’ UPM Sept. 7 1995UPM Sept. 7 1995

Purpose:Purpose:To describe system of CPE in the USATo describe system of CPE in the USA

CPE is a component of adult educationCPE is a component of adult education

Professions account for about 29 mill Professions account for about 29 mill which is 27% of workforcewhich is 27% of workforce

Each professions organizes its own Each professions organizes its own system of CPE – little attention to system of CPE – little attention to what other professions are doingwhat other professions are doing

No systems are fully matured – in No systems are fully matured – in rapidly progressing developmental rapidly progressing developmental stagestage

With rapid technological With rapid technological innovations the need for CPE is innovations the need for CPE is universally accepteduniversally accepted

PURPOSE OF CPEPURPOSE OF CPE

Scientific knowledge has grown so much Scientific knowledge has grown so much CPE keep pace with new knowledge CPE keep pace with new knowledge Up-to-dateUp-to-dateHelp professionals recognize the ethical Help professionals recognize the ethical choices choices Help professionals recognize and be Help professionals recognize and be able to collaborate able to collaborate Help professionals learn new roles Help professionals learn new roles within the professionwithin the profession

METHODS OF DELIVERING CPEMETHODS OF DELIVERING CPE

DidacticDidactic

Useful for the purpose of keeping Useful for the purpose of keeping professionals up-to-dateprofessionals up-to-date

Delivered through technologyDelivered through technology

Trend changing to self directed Trend changing to self directed learninglearning

Study shows 53% informal learningStudy shows 53% informal learning

PROVIDERS OF CPEPROVIDERS OF CPE

Institutionally-basedInstitutionally-based

PluralisticPluralistic

UniversitiesUniversities

WorkplacesWorkplaces

Professional associationProfessional association

ORGANIZATION OF PROVIDERSORGANIZATION OF PROVIDERS

Little cooperation among providersLittle cooperation among providers

Cooperation in resourcesCooperation in resources

Collaboration between industry and Collaboration between industry and universities - counciluniversities - council

WHAT ARE RELATIONSHIP OF WHAT ARE RELATIONSHIP OF CPE TO PRESERVICE CPE TO PRESERVICE

EDUCATIONEDUCATION

Discontinuity between the systemsDiscontinuity between the systems

Some professions have coordinated Some professions have coordinated systemsystem

Corporation between university and Corporation between university and industry to offer degree in industry to offer degree in management, accounting, management, accounting, engineeringengineering

General Motors Institute – degree-General Motors Institute – degree-granting institution (Michigan)granting institution (Michigan)

National Technological University – National Technological University – association for media based CPE for association for media based CPE for engineersengineers

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONSUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Characteristics:Characteristics:

1.1. Devoted to updating about newest Devoted to updating about newest developmentsdevelopments

2.2. Transmitted in a didactic factionTransmitted in a didactic faction

3.3. By a pluralistic group of providersBy a pluralistic group of providers

4.4. Do not work according to some overall Do not work according to some overall planplan

5.5. Almost entirely unconnected to the Almost entirely unconnected to the previous levels of professional educationprevious levels of professional education

Changes taking place in all 5 Changes taking place in all 5 dimensionsdimensions

The system of CPE still in infancyThe system of CPE still in infancy

Expect tremendous growth and Expect tremendous growth and developmentdevelopment