TOPRA e-learning

Download Quick Guide

Introduction

topra-elearning is an online training resource that contains a range of courses designed to help with your personal and professional development. Lifelong Learning (LLL), also known as Continuing Professional Development (CPD) plays an important part in most professional bodies.

There are a number of TOPRA elearning courses available covering the broad areas of Managing people, HR and Compliance, Personal effectiveness,

The above courses are available at the following prices per course: Member rate: £65 + VAT, Non-member rate: £80 + VAT.

All the courses have been tailored specifically for TOPRA members, so hopefully you'll find them relevant to your day-to-day work. If you haven't used a course before, find out more by using the menu on the right. The courses are also part of TOPRA’s Lifelong Learning Scheme and upon completion of each course you will receive a Lifelong Learning certificate showing the number of hours the course contributes to your Lifelong Learning Log.

If you would like to see how these courses work, please have a look at our demo.

How do I use TOPRA e-learning?

TOPRA e-learning is simple to use and designed to be flexible. It doesn't assume you'll always want to sit for a length of time and complete a whole course, so you can dip in and out as you wish.

The first time you visit, you will need to register yourself as a learner by clicking the "register" link to the right. You will be able to select a username and password.

Use your username and password to log in to the right.

You will then reach your learner gateway for access to the courses.

Each course has an access code that you'll need to enter the first time you use it.

How do the courses work?

Each course contains three or four modules with a variety of learning activities so that you can choose to learn in a way that suits your preferred learning style. You'll be asked to answer questions, think about situations and complete exercises keying in all of your answers on screen. In many places you'll be directed towards further reading on a particular topic that you may find helpful.

You can work through each module at your own speed but as a guide each module relates to about one hour of learning.

You can also see how others have tackled an exercise - anonymously - by clicking on the button which says "take a look at some answers that others have submitted".

What's in it for me?

Regulatory competences for RA Professionals, encompass the knowledge, skills and behaviours which enable effective performance in a specific role or function. In the case of RA there is a wide range of competencies that you may need. These skills will develop and change as you attain higher levels of responsibilities within an organisation (pharmaceutical company, regulatory agency, contract research organisation, consultancy etc) or switch to a different role. For more specialist roles (e.g. veterinary products, biocides, pesticides) your competencies will be related to the particular specialism. So-called 'soft skills' such as team working, negotiation, time management, project management, working in a global environment (i.e. cultural awareness) are also important for RA professionals. These will progressively become more important to you as your professional responsibilities increase. By undertaking "Soft skills" courses, you will contribute to your Professional and Personal development! The skills you'll acquire will help you in your RA role and allow you to progress and be ready to take on more responsibility. These courses are also useful for staff who have more experience but feel they could do with a refresher.

Flexibility
By doing your learning online you are not tied down to attending training on a specific day, or having to travel to do it. This should make it easier to schedule time into your working life to do the courses.

Learning at your own pace
If you are delving into a completely new area that you have never looked at before you can take your time, and not worry that you might be holding anyone up. Conversely, if you feel like you know that stuff you are looking at, then there is no need to spend lots of time there, just move on to something new.

Where and when do I use it?

This is here for you to use how and when you want. You may want to print off exercises to read on the train; you may want to dip in and out when you have a quiet half hour or need a break from something else you're working on, or you may want to agree with your manager to spend a whole day working through a complete course. Flexibility is the key and remember what you'll get out of it will be in proportion to the effort you put into it!