IB Policy Document
Recognition of externally provided professional development
Policy number: PDRD002
Version: 1.0
Scope: All IB staff
Effective date: August 1, 2007Type: Professional Development and Research Division
Purpose
There is clear evidence of growth in the number of experienced and knowledgeable people
and groups interested in supporting the professional development needs of schools through
the hosting and delivery of IB recognized workshops and other PD related events. While
recognizing that each regional office is responsible for negotiating specific agreements with
external professional development providers, this policy sets out the overarching principles
governing recognition and deployment, under which such agreements are made.
Policy
1. Regional offices have authority over and responsibility for the scheduling and
deployment of all IB recognized professional development workshops in their region,
apart from on-line workshops which are co-ordinated from Cardiff.
2. Given large variations in the socio-political and geographic profiles between regions,
each regional office, while working to uphold agreed standards of practice, is
responsible for establishing and managing contractual agreements with external PD
providers.
3. Participation in externally provided PD events will not count for the purposes of school
authorization and evaluation unless the event in question has been formally recognized
by the IB through a contractual agreement negotiated between the provider and the
regional office.
4.Regional offices carefully plan a calendar of events up to two years in advance. To avoid conflicts of interest and duplication of effort, any external PD provider wishing to
conduct officially recognized events must negotiate appropriate dates with the regional
office which align with the established workshop calendar.
5. No officially recognized external professional development provider may market to IB
world schools variations of IB recognized PD events other than those formally approved
by the regional office.
6. All recognized IB teacher training workshops, which have been officially authorised by a
regional office and marketed to the wider community of IB schools, must meet the
quality assurance standards of the organisation as specified in the IB’s professional
development quality assurance framework.
7. Regional offices are in no way obliged to enter into a contractual agreement with any
external provider seeking recognition. An agreement signed by one regional office with
an external professional development provider does not in any way constitute
authorization to provide similar services in another region. Agreements must be signed
separately with each region.
8. The intellectual property of the IB may not be used under any circumstances without a
signed contractual agreement or other written approval issued from the organization.
This includes the use of materials published under copyright, the use of IB registered
trademarks, and any practice that can be construed as passing off or trading on the IB’s
reputation. Unauthorized use of its IP may result in the IB taking legal action to protect
its rights.
Support
For further information or support in implementing this policy, please contact Jonathon Marsh, Head of Professional Development and Research Division,
IB Curriculum and Assessment Centre, Cardiff, +44-(0)2920-547726, jonathon.marsh@ibo.org.
IB Professional Development
- Unpacking the Standards and Practices
- Role of IB Networks
- Role of IB Associations
- Associations Criteria for Recognition
- Guidelines for Providers
- In-School Workshops
- Recognition of externally provided development
- Rules and Policy for use of IB Intellectual Property
- Supplementary PD record
- Examiner Terms and Conditions
- Workshop Leader Terms and Conditions
- Workshop Planner
