'Let’s become even better engineers, scientists, and technologists'
How? That is where Continuing Professional Development comes in, suggests the IMarEST President, Kevin Daffey.
In any sector, being prepared for the future is important. In the maritime sector, undergoing such seismic change, it is vital.
With technology changing so rapidly and the frontiers of science ever expanding, it is up to each and every one of us to adapt through continuing professional development (CPD). When we acquire new knowledge, skills or capability, we benefit in so many ways: CPD makes our jobs more enjoyable, opens up new career options, helps our organisations become more successful and equips us to become good role models for the next generation.
CPD is unique to all of us, we choose what new knowledge we learn, what new skills we acquire and how we apply them.
We also choose how we learn, for instance the IMarEST provides on-line webinars, IMarEST TV, Marine Professional magazine, conference proceedings, books, reports, SIG discussions and resources, branch lectures, and a virtual library of books, digital archives, and academic journals. Sometimes the challenge is choosing what to learn!
My CPD experience
For my own CPD, I like to watch webinars, and read books but I learn the most from ‘doing’, such as developing new business models, building new engineering capability and coaching my own engineers.
As I work in Germany, I am learning the German language from a tutor. I participate in helping Lloyds Register in Class Rule development and I learn so much from my peers as we discuss and debate changes to make ships safer. I also have to keep abreast of AI, autonomy, future fuels, future propulsion, and cybersecurity, so I use on-line resources and learn from customers, partners and suppliers.
Ultimately, we come into engineering, science, and technology because we love the subjects and we like to learn, so let us all continue to evolve and become even better engineers, scientists and technologists.
Kevin Daffey is President of the IMarEST.
Find out more
The IMarEST has a free e-learning course: Introduction to Professional Development which explains what the IMarEST offers in three short videos which are accompanied by a test on each module.
The e-learning bundle is an introduction to professional development, and how it helps marine professionals progress their careers. It also explains what is required to become Chartered with the IMarEST – from how to demonstrate your academic learning, to building a competency-based CV and what to expect when you’re going through the final interview process.