Motivating Factors for Company Secretaries for Participation in Continuing Professional Development Programmes

In the USA since 1960s and in the UK since 1980s, continuing professional education (CPE) has acquired an immense importance. Researchers have been focusing on what are the factors that motivate professionals to participate in CPE or what are the various barriers that prohibit effective participation of professionals in CPE. Such research assumed a great importance in 1970s till about 1990s, when various professional boards were having the voluntary policy of CPE for their members. Since 1980s, most of the professional boards world over started turning towards mandatory CPE (MCPE) which made participation compulsory for its members and the loss of license to practice if not participated in CPE. A couple of empirical studies showed that some of the issues identified with voluntary CPE persisted with MCPE as well. India has been one of the late entrants in the field of CPE and that too due to the pressure of globalisation than the real need felt internally. It has been more than ten years since the ICAI and ICSI have adopted MCPE. There is not much research available about CPE in India. The following research paper is an attempt to begin nationwide empirical study to understand motivating factors for Company Secretaries for participation in MCPE. Factor analysis has revealed four motivating factors for Company Secretaries in India.