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Continuing professional development in practice

This module is aimed at people with a professional qualification (degree or professional equivalent) and who have undertaken at least 150 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) over the last four years. This may be modules from the OU or other providers or ‘non-course’ CPD completed for their organisation or professional bodies. Through two assignments and an end-of-module assessment you'll audit and evaluate this CPD activity and the impact that it has had on your work. You'll identify and progress appropriate development opportunities and the future direction of your learning through continuing professional development and evaluate ways in which you can share your learning in your organisation.

Qualifications

U810 is an optional module in our:

This module can also count towards F01, F12, F37, D52 and C27 which are no longer available to new students.

Module

Module code
U810
Credits

Credits

  • Credits measure the student workload required for the successful completion of a module or qualification.
  • One credit represents about 10 hours of study over the duration of the course.
  • You are awarded credits after you have successfully completed a module.
  • For example, if you study a 60-credit module and successfully pass it, you will be awarded 60 credits.
30
Study level
Across the UK, there are two parallel frameworks for higher education qualifications, the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Northern Ireland and Wales (FHEQ) and the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). These define a hierarchy of levels and describe the achievement expected at each level. The information provided shows how OU postgraduate modules correspond to these frameworks.
OU Postgraduate
SCQF 11
FHEQ 7
Study method
Distance learning
Module cost
See Module registration
Entry requirements

Find out more about entry requirements.

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Module details Entry requirements Module registration Study materials

What you will study

This module is aimed at people who already have an initial professional qualification (degree or professional equivalent) and have undertaken at least 150 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) over the last three to four years. This development may be in the form of modules from the OU, other HE and non-HE providers or their own previous or current organisations; or other forms of ‘non-course’ CPD completed for their organisation or professional bodies.

You'll spend about 100 hours on the module over six months. You'll be provided with articles and online study materials about professional learning and development that will be used to provide an academic underpinning of your work. You will have access to library databases where you will be able to obtain extra readings tailored to your work. Your learning is evidenced through the writing of two assignments and an end-of-module assessment. In these pieces of work you'll audit and evaluate the CPD activity that you have already undertaken and the impact that it has had on your work. You will proceed through a structured framework used by the module to identify and progress appropriate development opportunities and the future direction of your learning through CPD.

You will learn

The module will enable you to improve the impact and value of your past, present and future CPD. To a great extent you can tailor your study to your own career aims and to projects that you are working on. It will help you to construct a personal CPD action plan and present a verifiable statement to others demonstrating your professional commitment to ongoing quality learning and development. In addition, you'll develop the necessary skills for studying at more advanced university levels.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor to help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. The support provided is entirely online. If you are new to The Open University, you'll find that your tutor is particularly concerned to help you with your study methods.

Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details can be found in the facts box above.

You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and where you will also receive feedback from your tutor on all of your work.

Course work includes

2 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
End-of-module assessment
No residential school

Future availability

Continuing professional development in practice starts twice a year – in May and November. This page describes the module that will start in May 2023. We expect it to start for the last time in November 2023.

Regulations

As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the academic regulations which are available on our Student Policies and Regulations website.

    Entry requirements

    This module is for anyone who has undertaken at least 150 hours of CPD over the last three to four years. Although you won’t be asked to provide evidence of this prior to module start date, your CPD will form part of the first assignment for this module. As such, you won't be able to successfully pass this module if you have not undertaken sufficient CPD prior to module start date. No technical knowledge is assumed, but you will be expected to participate in some online work.

    If you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.

    Outside the UK

    This module is relevant to students in both a UK and non-UK context.

    Register

    Start End England fee Register
    06 May 2023 Oct 2023 £1160.00

    Registration closes 13/04/23 (places subject to availability)

    Register
    04 Nov 2023 Apr 2024 £1245.00

    Registration closes 12/10/23 (places subject to availability)

    Register
    This module is expected to start for the last time in November 2023.

    Future availability

    Continuing professional development in practice starts twice a year – in May and November. This page describes the module that will start in May 2023. We expect it to start for the last time in November 2023.

    Additional costs

    Study costs

    There may be extra costs on top of the tuition fee, such as set books, a computer and internet access.

    Ways to pay for this module

    We know there’s a lot to think about when choosing to study, not least how much it’s going to cost and how you can pay.

    That’s why we keep our fees as low as possible and offer a range of flexible payment and funding options, including a postgraduate loan, if you study this module as part of an eligible qualification. To find out more, see Fees and funding.

    Study materials

    What's included

    The Manager’s Good Study Guide (online), both study materials and supplementary resources via the Web; online discussion forums; as well as real time online tutorials.

    Computing requirements

    You’ll need broadband internet access and a desktop or laptop computer with an up-to-date version of Windows (10 or 11), or macOS (11 'Big Sur' or higher).

    Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available.

    To join in spoken conversations in tutorials, we recommend a wired headset (headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone).

    Our module websites comply with web standards, and any modern browser is suitable for most activities.

    Our OU Study mobile app will operate on all current, supported versions of Android and iOS. It’s not available on Kindle.

    It’s also possible to access some module materials on a mobile phone, tablet device or Chromebook. However, as you may be asked to install additional software or use certain applications, you’ll also require a desktop or laptop as described above.

    If you have a disability

    The module is taught using study texts available from a website and online discussion forums. You will be expected to submit your assignments electronically. If you think you may have difficulty handling online material or operating a computer, please contact us about support which can be given to meet your needs. The study materials are available in Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). Some Adobe PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and musical notation and mathematical, scientific, and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way.

    If you have particular study requirements please tell us as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Visit our Disability support website to find more about what we offer.