Professional Development Partner

“ A unique partnership reinforcing an employers commitment to career progression and professional recognition”

IPENZ is committed to supporting the professional development of Members throughout their careers. Strong partnerships with engineering employers, through the Professional Development Partner (PDP) programme, are a key mechanism for providing that support.  IPENZ strongly encourages engineering graduates to commit to an engineering career where they are engaged with the engineering profession. A professional career requires a planned and structured approach to professional development which is best achieved with strong employer support.

What is a Professional Development Partner ?
Professional Development Partners (PDPs) work in partnership with IPENZ to develop their engineering staff, strengthen their business and support the wider engineering profession. Any organisation that employs engineers can be a PDP. They range from small and medium-sized engineering businesses to large organisations with offshore branches or affiliations.

PDPs believe a strong professional development programme with pathways to IPENZ competence-based Membership classes (MIPENZ, TIPENZ or AIPENZ) and registers (CPEng, ETPract or CertETn) will enhance the status and standing of their engineering staff, and be a key mechanism for attracting and retaining them.

Recognition as an IPENZ PDP signals to current and prospective employees an organisation’s strong commitment to the development of their engineering staff and support for the engineering profession.

What can you expect from a Professional Development Partner?
Graduates will initially see the most benefit from the PDP programme. They can expect:

• a structured professional development programme (training opportunities and work experiences) that assists them with their initial career development and maximises their ability to progress to competence-based Membership classes and registers
• regular feedback on their progress and development
• mentoring support to guide and help plan their competence development
• career planning support

More experienced engineers should increasingly expect support to:

• gain and maintain IPENZ quality marks
• develop management and leadership skills
• develop their careers in line with long-term goals

Many PDPs will also support employees with professional development budgets that may cover competence assessment application fees, professional membership subscriptions, annual registration fees, in-house training and fees for external courses, seminars and conferences.