b'16 Member News November 2021Professional DevelopmentCollaboration andContinuing Professional Development (CPD)By Abdul Rehman Savant CEng MIET, Professional Head of Discipline (E&P/M&E) for SYSTRA UKIRL RegionCPD should be one of our top priorities.I reviewed my CPD reach, took advantage As engineering professionals at various levels,of the situation and expanded by switching from Apprentice to Principal Engineer, or ato a virtual event. retired Technical Expert, we all get involvedIve reached out to professionals and in CPD activities. This includes researchexperts from all over the UK, Ireland, and development of projects, innovation,UAE, Poland, India, Mauritius, Tunisia, reading articles relating to engineering andand Saudi Arabia to support their technology, attending industry seminars, exhibitions and technical briefing sessions.CPD, and in turn my own. CPD activities can sometimes be undervaluedThe group now consists of over 200 or just not very high on the priority list.active members, of which on average 30 to 40 members take part in collaborative However, CPD is a key elementsessions to discuss the latest products, in our personal growth, thetechnology, and systems in the industry. development of our industries and,Its a great opportunity for stakeholders, most importantly, in supporting theof professional networks and has enhanceddesigners, and supply chains globally sustainability of our planet.our technical expertise.to collaborate and share knowledge. The IETs TWAVES (training, work experience,With the IETs global community of academic study, volunteering, events,In January 2020, I decided to further myengineers and technicians, forming and self-study) acronym makes it easy toreach of CPD by organising a workgroupreal industry connections to network, remember some of the main activities thatcalled the CITW (Collaborative,learn and collaborate is easy. count towards CPD, whilst Career Manager,Innovative, Technical Workshop), the IETs Professional Development tool,whilst working at SYSTRA UKIRL.Building expertise with other established makes the CPD process quick and easyprofessionals, whether at industry with several new features (see page 17). Due to the pandemic, the events could notevents or webinars, not only contributes Others are busy working towardsget started as planned, however, this didtowards CPD, but it also shows potential Professional Registration and dont realisenot deter the initiative. As CPD becameemployers your dedication to professional the skills and knowledge gained throughever more important due to the lack ofgrowthand could help you when CPD can be used as evidence in theirhuman interaction in those testing times, applying for Professional Registration.Professional Registration application and working towards this demonstrates yourFind out more at theiet.org/cpd or head to theiet.org/careermanagerdevelopment as an engineer or technician. to start your CPD journey to Professional Registration.With the launch of the IETs Career Manager, its made the recording and submission of CPD easy andAs a Network Rail ProjectThe SYSTRA CITW sessions have straightforward. Engineer, it can be difficult tobeen a fantastic example of The recording of CPD is half the battle -find training opportunities forcollaborative working. It opened the other half is recognising the activities that qualify for CPD. To make this taskthe Project Engineers I mentor,my eyes to new disciplines and easier, Ive been actively involved inhowever the CITW sessionsareas that I would not have had the organisation of Technical Seminars,greatly contributed to their CPD. access to previously and bolstered Collaboration Sessions, writing articles andmy personal development.mentoring. The benefits gained from these sessions have been quite evident in myAdam Green CEng BEng (Hons) MIET personal development to achieving CEngProject Engineer E&P L4 + BuildingGeorge Woollard EngTech MPWI and the development of my colleaguesServices L3, Network Rail Rail Sector Manager at Cubis Systemsfrom EngTech to Fellowship. It has also supported better engineering, the growth'