top stories

CPD survey results

15 Oct 2008

ACCA Realise, the CPD requirement for all ACCA members, has been extremely successful since its launch in January 2005. This year, however, saw ACCA undertake a period of evaluation, research, and consultation focusing on CPD, in order to ensure that ACCA Realise remains effective and relevant.

A global membership survey on CPD was one of the key activities undertaken in 2008: it allowed you to feed back views on CPD 'five years on' from the previous global CPD survey, and we are pleased to report that we received 5,800 responses. Twenty-six face-to-face workshops were held across 17 countries, allowing members to add an in-depth qualitative viewpoint. The findings from these complemented the survey results, and, together, this information will be used to steer ACCA's ongoing approach to CPD support, services, and guidance. Key findings are detailed below - many thanks to all of you who participated. 

The key benefits of undertaking CPD

The consultation confirmed broad support for ACCA Realise. Those responding indicated that undertaking CPD has two key benefits: it helps you maintain the knowledge and skills you need for your current roles (76%), and it helps you maintain professional and ethical standards (72%).

The CPD process: how to gain further value

A small proportion, however, may not be gaining maximum value because of issues around planning your learning activity. Fifteen per cent indicated that you do not plan, but then find yourselves doing all of your CPD at the end of the year. It helps with the planning process, and benefits your career, to consider your learning and development in relation to your job role or career aspirations. Only 35% of you, however, indicated that CPD is totally integrated into your work or job role. The concept of planning CPD activity to complement your career needs and/or aspirations is clearly an area in which ACCA can offer more support and guidance.

A thirst for both technical and business learning

The consultation confirmed that you continue to look to ACCA for both technical learning and business skills development. The most popular technical learning needs were in the areas of corporate finance and financial management, risk, taxation and financial reporting. The most popular business skills needs were in the areas of leadership, strategy, communications and analysis. There are slight variations for ACCA across different countries and sectors: further information on members' learning needs, and how ACCA will respond to those needs, will be shared with you early next year.

Coaching and mentoring: a new consideration

Coaching and mentoring are activities which over two-thirds of you now undertake, either formally or informally. There seems to be a lack of awareness, however, that it can count towards your CPD requirement. The role of an ACCA Workplace Mentor, for example, not only enables you to support ACCA trainees through their practical experience but also provides opportunities for you to learn transferable skills and play a part in developing the profession. Less than a quarter of you were aware that becoming an ACCA Workplace Mentor can contribute to your CPD, and two-thirds of you would like more information about the role. We look forward to providing you with wider support on coaching and mentoring during 2009.

How ACCA can support you with CPD

As well as increasing guidance on planning CPD and coaching and mentoring, other key themes arose, including:

• how to achieve verifiable CPD
• how learning activities (other than face-to-face events) contribute towards CPD - for example, learning at work
• clarifying how CPD links into career development and progression
• promoting CPD to employers and ensuring that, where possible, ACCA provides learning opportunities where the employer cannot.

These are all areas in which we will focus on providing more support to you, both in accounting & business and across other mediums, throughout 2009.