Context specificity and quality continuing professional education. Part 1: beyond the market

The first of two related articles examining quality assurance in university continuing professional education (CPE). First provides a critique of the potential for the institutionalization of quality CPE which is offered by BS 5750. A discussion relating to both the fundamental character of the standard and to key issues and themes concerning its implementation in education is developed. Argues that BS 5750 is fundamentally inappropriate for university CPE – it is seen to be vulnerable in ideological, practical, financial and organizational terms. Concludes that an understanding of, and mechanisms for, quality must be established in terms specific to context; provides the linchpin of the framework proposed in the second article.