Professional obsolescence and continuing professional development in higher education

Many discussions of professional development in higher education concentrate on the provision and design of good-quality development opportunities. While acknowledging the importance of that focus, this paper considers the work environment as the main site for professional development. The argument is that continuing professional development, in times of continuing professional obsolescence, is best served by attention to departmental cultures, especially in the context of the activities of programme design and review. Implications for staff development professionals are considered.