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M9-Pro-07 Justice, Trade & Work Fiduciary & Professional Services CORE Excellence v2.9.7

CPD aligned with Shariah & professional standards

This criterion assesses the extent to which the organization implements and maintains a robust Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program for its workforce. The scope includes all relevant employees, contractors, volunteers, and outsourced service providers impacting Shariah compliance or regulated outcomes. The program must meet the requirements of relevant professional bodies and regulatory standards while aligning with Shariah principles, ethical considerations, and the specific needs of the organization's Islamic finance and regulated professional services (e.g., legal, accountancy, insurance, healthcare, counselling). The program maps role-based competencies to regulators/professional bodies, embeds Shariah ethics across disciplines, and ensures accessibility for all staff. It evaluates the comprehensiveness of the CPD program, its effectiveness in enhancing knowledge and skills, and its impact on high-quality, Shariah-compliant service delivery. The criterion encompasses needs assessment, learning objectives, content governance, delivery methods, rigorous performance evaluation, and ongoing improvement, emphasizing the incorporation of ethical considerations (Amanah, Adl) to promote integrity and accountability.

KPI / Measure
MetricShariah CPD KPI Set
TargetCompletion ≥90%; Hours/Outcomes: per-role targets; Pass rate ≥85%; SNCs −20% YoY; Plans ≥95%
FrequencyQuarterly (with annual summary)
MethodMulti-metric set: Completion Rate, Role-Based Hours/Outcomes, Pass Rate, SNC Reduction, Plan Approval
UnitPercentage; Hours; Count
Maturity Levels
Level 1: Initial/Ad-hoc

Initial: CPD activities are ad-hoc, informal, and reactive. There is no formal policy, and training is not systematically linked to Shariah requirements or organizational objectives.

Level 2: Developing

Developing: A basic CPD policy exists, primarily focused on meeting mandatory professional or regulatory requirements. Shariah-related training is offered but is not systematically integrated into a comprehensive needs analysis.

Level 3: Established

Defined: A formal, organization-wide CPD program is implemented based on a systematic Training Needs Analysis (TNA) that explicitly includes Shariah competencies. Training content is reviewed for Shariah alignment, and employee participation is tracked.

Level 4: Advanced

Managed & Measured: The CPD program's effectiveness is regularly measured against defined objectives and KPIs. Its impact on employee performance, service quality, and Shariah compliance is assessed, and feedback is used for continuous improvement of the program.

Level 5: Optimizing

Optimizing & Leading: The CPD program is a strategic function that anticipates future industry needs and drives innovation in Shariah-compliant practices. The organization is a recognized leader in talent development, contributing knowledge and best practices to the wider Islamic economy, fully embodying a culture of Ihsan and Itqan.

Applicability

Organisation Types

bank finance-provider investment-fund insurance-provider accountancy-firm advisory-consultancy legal-practice private-healthcare-clinic counselling-practice

By Organisation Size

SizeApplicabilityNotes
Micro exempt Disproportionate for volunteer-run charities with no formal staff requiring professional CPD frameworks.
Small exempt Formal CPD policies, systematic TNA, and 6-year retention requirements are too burdensome for very small teams.
Medium partial Requires basic CPD policies and training plans, but complex TNA, Shariah audits, and formal sanctions can be scaled down.
Large full
Major full

Applicable When

  • The organization offers Shariah-compliant products or services.
  • The organization employs professionals whose work impacts Shariah compliance.
  • The organization is subject to Islamic finance regulations.
  • Provides regulated professional services where Shariah ethics are material to outcomes (e.g., legal, healthcare, counselling)

Not Applicable When

  • The organization does not offer Shariah-compliant products or services.
  • The organization's operations are exclusively conventional and outside the scope of Islamic finance.
  • The organization is not subject to Islamic finance regulations.

Discussion (1)

Administrator 2026-03-07 11:08:18.903946

📋 **Version updated: 1.0.0 → 2.9.7** **Changes:** Updated islamic_references from mizan-297.json

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