THE DYNAMICS OF CONTINUING THE DYNAMICS OF CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION

The work of professionals is The work of professionals is importantimportantThey poses technical skills and They poses technical skills and define to a great extent the problems define to a great extent the problems and the solutions on which they workand the solutions on which they workAct as symbolic leadershipAct as symbolic leadershipProfessionals must learn throughout Professionals must learn throughout their working livestheir working lives

They learn through books, discussions They learn through books, discussions with colleagues, formal and informal with colleagues, formal and informal programs and the rigors of everyday programs and the rigors of everyday practicepractice

Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Continuing Professional Education (CPE) a form of formal learning has increased a form of formal learning has increased – Billions of dollars spent to provide and Billions of dollars spent to provide and

attend such programsattend such programs– Organized comprehensive CPE are evident Organized comprehensive CPE are evident

in traditional professionsin traditional professions

The concept of lifelong education is a The concept of lifelong education is a must in every professionmust in every profession

Many professions have a system of Many professions have a system of accreditation for providers of CPEaccreditation for providers of CPEParticipation in CPE as basis for Participation in CPE as basis for relicensing members of certain relicensing members of certain professionsprofessionsIn Malaysia CPE is not well In Malaysia CPE is not well establishedestablished– CPE should be more organized; CPE should be more organized;

proper planning and evaluation, proper planning and evaluation, conducted by qualified personnel.conducted by qualified personnel.

CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR CONTINUING EDUCATION FOR THE PROFESSIONSTHE PROFESSIONS

A new field of educational practice A new field of educational practice has come into existencehas come into existence

In the USA journals in specific In the USA journals in specific professionsprofessions

CPE educators also form their own CPE educators also form their own associationsassociations

Traditional view: CPE must be Traditional view: CPE must be directed by its own membersdirected by its own members

Emerging view: individuals trained in Emerging view: individuals trained in the field of continuing education the field of continuing education have the most appropriate have the most appropriate qualification for this functionqualification for this function95% of CPE educators trained only in 95% of CPE educators trained only in the content of their own professionthe content of their own professionOnly 5% have formal training in Only 5% have formal training in education and technicaleducation and technicalAs a new field of practice CPE much As a new field of practice CPE much to learn: concepts holdovers from the to learn: concepts holdovers from the models of preprofessional educationmodels of preprofessional education

It is important to identify the It is important to identify the elements of effective practice in CPEelements of effective practice in CPE

To improve practice: To improve practice: – to understand the assumptions and to understand the assumptions and

principles that guide the workprinciples that guide the work– Examine whether they are the most Examine whether they are the most

useful onesuseful ones– Change when necessaryChange when necessary

WHAT ARE THE PROFESSIONS?WHAT ARE THE PROFESSIONS?

Earliest effort to define a profession Earliest effort to define a profession by Flexner in 1915by Flexner in 1915

No commonly agreed upon answer to No commonly agreed upon answer to the question of what constitutes a the question of what constitutes a professionprofession

In order to think clearly and In order to think clearly and systematically about CPE the concept systematically about CPE the concept of profession must be understoodof profession must be understood

STATIC APPROACHSTATIC APPROACHOldest definition by Flexner (1915)Oldest definition by Flexner (1915)

There are certain objective There are certain objective standards distinguish professions standards distinguish professions from other occupationsfrom other occupations

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

1.1. Involve intellectual operationsInvolve intellectual operations

2.2. Derive their material from scienceDerive their material from science

3.3. Involve definite and practical endsInvolve definite and practical ends

4.4. Possess an educationally Possess an educationally communicable techniquecommunicable technique

5.5. Tend to self-organizationTend to self-organization

6.6. Be altruisticBe altruistic

Static approach because objective Static approach because objective criteria firmly discriminate between criteria firmly discriminate between professions and ordinary occupationsprofessions and ordinary occupations

Major problem of this approach: lack Major problem of this approach: lack of consensus about the criteriaof consensus about the criteria

PROCESS APPROACHPROCESS APPROACHSuggested by Vollmer and Mills Suggested by Vollmer and Mills (1966)(1966)All occupations as existing on a All occupations as existing on a continuum of professionalization continuum of professionalization The question is how professionalized The question is how professionalized is an occupation?is an occupation?All occupations go through a natural All occupations go through a natural sequence in their passage to sequence in their passage to professional statusprofessional status

Occupations can deprofessionalizeOccupations can deprofessionalizeThe continuum is not a one-way The continuum is not a one-way streetstreetNo clear-cut boundary separates No clear-cut boundary separates professions from other occupationsprofessions from other occupationsIt recognizes the dynamic conditions It recognizes the dynamic conditions of contemporary occupational of contemporary occupational structuresstructuresProfessions never reach a point of Professions never reach a point of becoming an ideal profession for becoming an ideal profession for constant improvement and constant improvement and continuing learningcontinuing learning

The premise: professions are The premise: professions are necessary to the smooth and orderly necessary to the smooth and orderly functioning of societyfunctioning of society

In turn, society provides monetary In turn, society provides monetary rewards and statusrewards and status

This approach does not recognize the This approach does not recognize the social inequalities as result of these social inequalities as result of these rewardsrewards

These inequalities are are These inequalities are are interpreted as natural and necessary interpreted as natural and necessary

Criticism of this approach:Criticism of this approach:– The approach does not seek to The approach does not seek to

understand the professions in terms of understand the professions in terms of how they gain and use their power and how they gain and use their power and authorityauthority

– Therefore it does not explain how Therefore it does not explain how occupations can come to be viewed as occupations can come to be viewed as more professionalizedmore professionalized

SOCIO-ECONOMIC APPROACHSOCIO-ECONOMIC APPROACH

In Europe, the status and security of In Europe, the status and security of occupations were gained by other occupations were gained by other means, such as protections provided means, such as protections provided by their governmentsby their governmentsBecker (1962) has concluded that Becker (1962) has concluded that any profession is a folk concept that any profession is a folk concept that is historically and nationally specificis historically and nationally specificThere is no such thing as an ideal There is no such thing as an ideal professionprofession

No set of criteria is necessarily No set of criteria is necessarily associated with itassociated with it

General public (folk) who generally General public (folk) who generally regarded which occupations are regarded which occupations are professions and which are notprofessions and which are not

Profession is an honorific titleProfession is an honorific title

Reality and meaning are socially Reality and meaning are socially constructed which are a political warconstructed which are a political war

Social and economic rewards are Social and economic rewards are accorded to the winnersaccorded to the winners

Professionalization is the process by Professionalization is the process by which producers of special services which producers of special services constitute and control the market for constitute and control the market for their servicestheir services

Professions attempt to negotiate the Professions attempt to negotiate the boundaries of a market for their boundaries of a market for their services and establish their control services and establish their control over itover it

For this professional market to exist For this professional market to exist a distinctive commodity must be a distinctive commodity must be producedproduced

Most professions produce intangible Most professions produce intangible goods which inextricably bound to goods which inextricably bound to the person who produces itthe person who produces it

Therefore the producers themselves Therefore the producers themselves have to be produced (adequately have to be produced (adequately trained and socialized)trained and socialized)

This process occurs in the modern This process occurs in the modern university to control knowledge base university to control knowledge base and to award credentialsand to award credentials