CIAT ramblings

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged about CIAT. Last month I was in Dublin for a CIAT Centre Committee meeting, there’s normally a meeting prior to the Institute’s AGM, which took place in Guernsey at the end of last month.

I always enjoy the discussion after the Centre Meeting, where most of us “from the country” have a chat and lunch prior to making the journey home. Discussions vary covering topical issues within the profession, be it OSI copyright and the merits of buying an OSI licence or issues with planners or building control. Of course current fees or the lack of them featured in the discussions too. It’s always a couple of hours well spent, as someone will always have a solution to a problem that any of the others would raise. At this year’s AGM a number of promotional video’s (thought that term was gone with the introduction of DVD's) were launched by the Institute, 4 in all I believe. The one that’s most beneficial, is that aimed at potential clients.

I have to say it’s not bad and definitely worth having a link to, within each reach for potential clients. Another reason why I should really progress my membership now.

My POP record, is sitting somewhere on my desk awaiting the signature of my POP record supervised before submission. I should really get it signed off and submitted, so I can progress my membership… the longer it sits there the long it will be before I attain Chartered membership. Top of this week’s to do list, along with booking a CIAT CPD course.

CPD (Continuing Professional Development)

As a member of CIAT, I am required to undertake and record a minimum of 35 hours of CPD each year. This year I have had no problem fulfilling my CPD hours; having already attended a number of structured or organised CPD Events; 26.5 hours to be exact so far over 3 events.

Accounting for the other time, can be quiet difficult, in that I spend hours researching things, from reviewing amendments to building regulations, watching U-Tube tutorials to reading books and even trade literature, yet seldom record this time. For example I spent 30 minutes yesterday studying “Standard Letters in Architectural Practice” yet I will most likely forget to note it in my CPD Record, or as I did last week, I spend 1 hour studying two reports on Multi-Foil insulation, yet that too will most properly go unaccounted for. Then there’s all the time associated with my Committee work on the CIAT Centre Committee, which can be counted too.

It’s properly safe to say that I would spend close to 100 hours in the typical year on CPD, yet I don’t account for it all, as often the time taken may be quiet short in researching something.

Why bother with CPD at all, well because nearly everyday, something new comes on stream or something changes, which effects the profession. As a professional having the most up to date knowledge is important, to ensure one executes one’s duties competently. Another reason is to broaden, one’s knowledge base, particularly within the current economic climate, where for many the day to day work type has changed.

May updates.

Its the last day of the month and I haven't posted since the first day, an indication of how busy I've been. I had two days of CPD orgainised by the CIAT on the role of PSDP on May 12/13. The course was fairly intense with exams at the end of each day. It will be a few months before I can expect the results, however I'm already putting the knowledge into practice.
Sticking with CIAT, I was elected Centre Secretary at the ROI Centre's Committee meeting last week.

On the work front, we've picked up a few new jobs, 2 extensions, a nursing home and the go ahead on three small housing schemes. In addition to lodging a revised proposal for a mixed village centre development and working drawing for a recently permitted Neighbourhood Centre.