Reading Security Matters supports individual Continuing Professional Development

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) is the term used to describe the learning activities that professionals engage in with a view towards enhancing and developing their abilities. In essence, it enables learning to become conscious and proactive in nature rather than passive and reactive.

Importantly, CPD assists individuals to regularly focus on how they can become a more competent and effective sector-focused professional. Training and learning increase confidence and overall capability and actively boost career aspirations. Those who engage in CPD can adapt positively to changes in work/industry requirements, with the recording of CPD providing demonstrable evidence of ongoing professional development.

Above all, perhaps, CPD shows a clear commitment to self-development and professionalism, allowing individuals to identify knowledge gaps and duly resolve these in what is a recognisable approach towards improvement.

The Security Institute’s scheme also recognises the vital contributions that individuals make in order to help develop others. In so doing, it achieves far more than only supporting personal achievement and is purposefully designed to better the security industry as a whole.

Security professionals who adopt a structured approach towards their professional development are able to keep pace with changes in the security business sector, achieve recognition, identify their competencies, become more employable, improve their skills, achieve their goals and progress in their career.

For its part, The Security Institute is wholly committed to raising standards in the security profession and always encourages practitioners to think about how they can continue to develop while at the same time helping and supporting their peers. CPD is compulsory for Chartered Security Professionals (CSyPs) and Fellows of the Institute. Having at least two years of completed CPD is essential, in fact, for those members who wish to upgrade to a Fellowship of the organisation.

Access to the scheme is open to all. Indeed, it’s a benefit that The Security Institute has uniquely developed for everyone working in the security sector and has already been adopted by four other organisations. In 2019, there were over 400 registered participants in the scheme. These numbers are set to grow significantly in 2020.

Earning CPD points

Readers of Security Matters will earn one informal CPD point ratified by The Security Institute for every two hours that they spend reading the journal in print or online, with half a point gained for every hour of reading. Reading Security Matters ensures that, as a practising security professional, you’re always up-to-date in terms of the latest developments in the industry. As such, this is a recognised CPD activity under The Security Institute’s popular scheme.

An important point to note here is that the number of informal CPD points that can be gained by those security professionals reading Security Matters (as well as other relevant journals and books) is capped at 12 points across any given year.

Informal CPD activity also encompasses things like writing presentations, being involved in the compilation of White Papers, mentoring and research etc, often aimed at educating or supporting the development of others. Formal CPD, on the other hand, would include attendance at events, seminars and conferences and active engagement with courses of learning and qualifications.

Rick Mounfield CSyP FSyI, CEO at The Security Institute, observed: “Our ethos is that no professional can remain professional without keeping their knowledge up to date. Our scheme, which has been adopted by several membership bodies in the sector, provides a simple method for planning and tracking individual personal growth. Reading focused trade magazines such as Security Matters is a fantastic way for security professionals to remain well-informed and earn informal CPD points. It’s a CPD activity they can complete at their own convenience and with no cost attached.”

Speaking about the new CPD arrangement for the readers of Security Matters, Editor Brian Sims Hon FSyI stated: “I’m absolutely delighted to announce this arrangement which will be of huge long-term benefit to our readership. Continuing Professional Development has been a core focus for me during my 20-plus years of serving as a journal Editor in this vital business sector. I’ve always been heavily involved in promoting the importance of ongoing learning and structured career progression. Along with many others who operate in our sector, I’m desperately keen to see security as a discipline and security management in particular recognised for what it is: a genuine profession. With that in mind, I continue to be a fervent supporter of The Security Institute’s concerted drive for Chartered status with The Privy Council. This is absolutely vital, and will serve as a real benchmark of progression when that status is realised.”