CIPD Learning & Development (Generalist Elective)

Who is it for?

If you're considering this course, or any other of the CIPD courses that make up the PDS, you'll be an HR professional already working within an organisation and a current Student member of the CIPD. You'll be organised, have advanced people skills and be committed to helping staff to reach their full potential, both for their own career development and the benefit of the organisation.

Where can it lead?

Highly qualified professionals in HR can rise to the top. As more and more companies understand the importance of effective management of their staff, knowledge of and experience in sound HR practices is becoming more and more highly prized. Even if you would like to eventually progress to a different area of management, the skills you learn through this qualification will be a valuable addition to your resume.

Salary?

Once completed, this qualification can be expected to add to your earning potential, and give you an added edge when it comes to promotion opportunities. While a starting salary for a personnel manager can be anything between £25,000 to £50,000 a year or more, depending on the size of the organisation, a move to senior management can take you into an even higher salary band.

Can I apply?

As this is a Level 7 programme (equivalent to a Master's degree) you will need a good level of management experience. Please call our dedicated CIPD advisors on 0500 501 346 to discuss specific entry requirements, how to gain CIPD Student Membership, and the exemption process.

Course Code

U04

Period of study

12 months

What will I study?

Integrating L & D Activity in the External Environment

• Evaluate the L & D implications of the UK’s national policy on education, training and development. Analyse global and international environments that impact on the L & D role.

Integrating L & D Activity in the Internal Environment

• Understand the characteristics of the internal environment. Produce divisional, group and individual learning plans. Look at L & D’s contribution to achieving the identified learning and development needs within the performance management process.

The Provision of a Value-added L & D Function

• Review the value that L & D adds to organisations. Understand the terms ‘value added’ and ‘value for money’. Investigate different L & D roles and their relevance in different organisational settings.

Recruitment, Performance Management and Strategic Awareness

• Examine the value of effective, relevant and well publicised L & D strategies and practices in aiding the recruitment process.

Retention of Employees

• Examine the importance of career development in the retention of employees. Explore assessment methods that identify employee potential. Evaluate different methods used to develop managers. Discover a range of approaches that can enhance organisational performance and competence.

Building Organisational Capacity and Facilitating Change

• Examine organisational culture, a factor that is often responsible for preventing change from taking place. Learn to respond appropriately in the role of change agent, including in situations of organisational contraction and expansion.

Learning Processes, Evaluation and Assessment

• Examine the importance of assessing all learning needs within an organisation. Learn how to monitor and evaluate all learning events.

Ethics and Continuing Professional Self-development

• Examine the importance of ethical behaviour and practices as well as the need for continuing professional development. Learn how to create awareness of ethical issues. Explore the role of L & D in the pursuance of tackling barriers to self-development.

Assessment

There will be four assessments during the course and one exam (set by CIPD) on completion of the course. You will also be required to attend a 2-day residential workshop.  Assessments can be submitted to ICS online via the Student Community (the faster alternative), or posted to ICS.

• Assessment 1: 7 questions (of a choice of 10) testing knowledge of Units 1 to 4. 200 words per question.
• Assessment 2: 7 questions (of a choice of 10) testing  knowledge of Units 5 to 8. 200 words per question.
• Assessment 3: 3 questions on a case study, testing knowledge of all 8 units.
• Assessment 4: 1 assignment (of a choice of 2) which should be approximately 2,000 words.
• Final Exam: 1 case study and 7 questions (of a choice of 10). The exam must be completed within 2 hours.

Notes

The 2-day residential workshop will take place at a central UK location.

The exam is held in May and November of each year.

Please note that the format of the exam is subject to change. The details provided are intended only as a guide and should not be regarded as definitive.

Technical requirements/Fees

CIPD membership, exam and workshop fees are additional to course fees.