A Leading Practitioner will have been involved in Outdoor Learning for over 10 years. You can apply for the Award regardless of whether you are employed, self-employed or a volunteer. There is no specific job title requirement, or context for your outdoor learning, you may be in a practitioner, managerial, advisory or leadership position. The LPIOL is a 'mindset' and the LPIOL Award is a development process.
Is LPIOL for you?
Leading Practitioners of the Institute are established Outdoor Learning practitioners with over ten years experience and evidence of influencing the wider field of Outdoor Learning beyond their workplace or specialist interest area.
LPIOL holders can be described by the attitude and approach they take to their role in Outdoor Learning. They will operate with a medium to long-term focus, anticipating and shaping the future. They need not be in a management role but they will have a positive regional or national influence in their specific area of Outdoor Learning.
Business Benefits
Leading Practitioners of the Institute evidence a commitment to the ongoing development in Outdoor Learning at a regional or national level. The award enhances and supports your organisations' staff development ethos and promotes the experience and expertise of your business. Leading Practitioners take strategic approaches to new initiatives, enabling and influencing projects and team members.
Core Competencies
Leading Practitioners of the Institute display a personal passion and enthusiasm for Outdoor Learning and influence and shape practice at a regional or national level. They are champions of high standards of reflective and ethical practice and promote responsible and sustainable use of the outdoors. In demonstrating an on-going commitment to and benefit from CPD, Leading Practitioners develop the expertise of self and others to deliver and extend the boundaries of Outdoor Learning innovation, facilitation and impactful change.
Direct Entry
The LPIOL Award is now available as a direct entry qualification, meaning that prior completion of the APIOL Award is not necessary. We also recommend attending a Strategic Leadership Workshop as an integral part of part of Leading Practitioner CPD but this not a pre-requisite for the Award. The Institute maintains a Community of Practice Group for Leading Practitioners to network, collaborate and continue to support innovation in Outdoor Learning.
The LPIOL Journey
What is involved
LPIOL is a self-led process with the support of an LPIOL Coach to reflect on what you have written and refine your application so it is concise, purposeful and truly represents you. Your application includes:
- A record of the Continuous Professional Development (CPD) you have completed and key events/people that have shaped your LPIOL mindset.
- A personal statement showing the relationship between your values and how these have influenced your work, as well as the factors in the sector/society that have impacted your work.
- Two examples for each criterion showing experience and leadership against the four LPIOL criteria.
- A virtual assessment interview with two assessors confirms that you can show you meet all the LPIOL criteria and have the professional attitude of an LPIOL award holder.
How do I?
Begin LPIOL
Become an Individual Member of the Institute. See Join Us
Complete the LPIOL registration form and email it to [email protected]
Get a Strategic Approach to my Leadership
Attend an IOL Strategic Leadership workshop. See our Events page for the next scheduled workshop.
IOL provides coaches at the application stage who are LPIOL holders to support your development. Everyone in a leadership role can benefit from regular meetings with a critical friend who knows your goals and values, and can be a sounding board to help you reflect and offer supportive challenges to think outside the box.
Be an LPIOL Coach
Do you hold an LPIOL Award and have experience in coaching or mentoring outdoor professionals?
If you are not already an IOL Coach, contact Dave for an overview of the Coaching Process and an Application Form.
Be an LPIOL Assessor
Hold an LPIOL Award and have experience assessing the competence of outdoor professionals?
If you are not already an IOL Assessor contacy Dave for further information on the LPIOL Assessor process.
Highlight your LPIOL award status
Request a copy of the logo and standards for its use on websites, brochures, emails etc.
Contact Dave at the IOL Office
Talk to someone about LPIOL
If you would like to talk to us about the LPIOL process, email the IOL Office via Dave or call +44 (0)1228 564580