The UK Association of Programme Directors (UKAPD)

Welcome to the UKAPD website

The UKAPD is the only national body representing the views of training programme directors in Britain and has been in existence since 1984 inception as the Association of Course Organisers (ACO). The first National ACO Conference was held in 1985 when it was agreed by delegates that the primary aim of ACO was educational. Since then the UKAPD has continued to thrive and now has nearly 400 members nationwide. The UKAPD is linked to the journal Education for Primary Care (published bi-monthly by Radcliffe Publishing), a journal which continues to provide relevant and stimulating articles and resources for all Primary Care Educators.

Our main event of the year is the Annual Conference, usually held in May or June. Many new challenges are on the horizon for Training Programme Directors and for Trainers. The introduction of the GP Curriculum and the changes to the MRCGP exam will no doubt exercise our minds greatly in the coming years. Applications for the conference are available from this web site. UKAPD conferences are an excellent opportunity to meet colleagues, recharge your batteries, get up to date information and new ideas (especially in the small group work), enjoy fine food and fine company in convivial surroundings and in general to contribute to the direction and life of the UKAPD. The conference fee is usually fully reimbursed by Deaneries. The venue for the conference rotates around the regions.

The UKAPD is meant to represent your views. Each Deanery has a Representative on the UKAPD Executive Committee and the UKAPD sends representation to other bodies. While our primary aim is educational, UKAPD inevitably has concerns about GP Educator pay and conditions which blend into the political arena. We are keen to forge better links with NAPCE, UKCEA and RCGP. As many of us are also Trainers we are keen to actively support and engage with our Trainer colleagues and GPStRs to ensure that their voices are heard.

If you have views about anything which affects vocational training we want to hear them.

We also have set up a resource section on the website so if you have anything that you think other TPDs or trainers would benefit from you can post it on this site.

Best Wishes,

Dr Prit Chahal

Chair of the UKAPD

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