CPD Approved Graduate Development Programme

Engineers Ireland awards the status of CPD Approved Graduate Development Programme to those programmes that meet the required criteria of best practice graduate programmes.

CPD approval demonstrates that your organisation’s programme meets the needs of today’s graduates, tomorrow’s professionals, strengthening talent attraction and retention for your organisation.

Graduate Development Programme Framework

Engineers Ireland has identified the core elements of best-in-class Graduate Development Programmes below as well as additional recommended best practice elements that give Graduate Development Programmes a cutting edge.

Required elements

1. Graduate Development Programme policy and/or brochure

Your graduate development programme policy and/or brochure should set out the essentials of the programme: the aim, scope, timelines and milestones; the identified competencies you seek to develop in your graduates; the identified learning objectives of the programme; the roles and responsibilities of the programme manager/coordinator, sponsor and graduate representative; the programme content and guidelines; the evaluation and review process.

2. Fundamental non-technical skills

A programme of opportunities to develop fundamental non-technical skills through on-the-job activities, formal training courses or a combination of both. No need to reinvent the wheel, the Engineers Ireland CPD certificate in professional engineering has been specifically designed, in partnership with leading employers, to equip recent graduates with the skills to accelerate their development in engineering organisations.

3. Mentoring for Graduates

A structured mentoring programme to support graduates. This should include: A standalone mentoring policy or section on mentoring as part of the Graduate Development Programme policy, trained mentors, as well as an evaluation and review process for mentoring. Engineers Ireland offers its IITD award-winning Effective Mentoring Programme to leading engineering employers. Effective Mentoring Programme

4. Fundamental technical knowledge and skills

A programme of opportunities to acquire fundamental technical knowledge and skills to contribute to the development of identified industry competencies using a combination of: on-the-job learning, mentoring/coaching, formal training courses, self-directed learning and industry networking. Need to identify CPD courses on technical and industry topics. Engineers Ireland offers a suite of introductory courses on technical and industry topics on our open programme or available as customised in-company courses for your organisation. CPD Training Courses by Theme

Recommended elements

5. Self-awareness assessment

Employing assessment tools to enable graduates to gain greater self-awareness and understanding of others. Engineers Ireland can provide DISC Personality Profile workshops and individual assessments, The 5 Behaviours of Cohesive Team workshops and individual assessments as well as EQ-certified workshops and individual assessments.

6. Rotation Opportunities

A schedule of structured rotation opportunities throughout your organisation and/or partners.

7. Networking and professional progression

Support for your graduates to reach out to industry, to network and to progress their professionalisation. Engineers Ireland can link you with our Membership team and Steps team to organise workshops and information sessions to support joining Engineers Ireland, obtaining a professional title and volunteering as part of the Steps outreach programme.

How to apply

To apply to obtain CPD approval status and logo for your Graduate Development Programme, please supply supporting evidence that your Graduate Development Programme meets, at a minimum, the 4 required elements of the Engineers Ireland CPD Approved Graduate Development Programme framework:

Graduate Development Programme Policy/Brochure
Fundamental non-technical skills
Mentoring Supports for Graduates
Fundamental technical knowledge and skills

You may also provide evidence meeting the recommended elements of the Engineers Ireland CPD Approved Graduate Development Programme framework and any other additional initiatives that contribute to your Graduate Development Programme.

Self-awareness assessment
Rotation opportunities
Networking and professional progression
Other

Please send all information along with your name, job title, organisation and contact details to cpdemployers@engineersireland.ie.