Back in May last year, we reported that the CIPS Level 4 Diploma was in the process of changing. Those changes have now occurred and the first set of exams on the new 2024 syllabus are set for March. Here we update you on those changes and give you the “inside track” on how they came about.
Why the changes?
The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) is the Awarding Body of its own qualifications and, as such, it is regulated by the UK government regulator for qualifications, Ofqual. As part of Ofqual regulations, Awarding Bodies are required to review their qualifications and the learning content and to keep them updated, in line with modern-day practice.
Typically, CIPS reviews and updates its qualifications every five years - and so this new 2024 version of the syllabus represents the output of their internal review. The new syllabus builds on the previous one (many parts are almost identical) but it also includes a number of additional features to improve the content.
Who was involved?
The review started back in 2021 when our Director, Ian Thompson, was one of three study centres invited to give detailed feedback and recommendations on required changes. It was a comprehensive process and nothing was left out.
“As a specially formed technical committee, we meticulously worked through each and every learning outcome and individual assessment criterion. The review was thorough and, at times, painstaking. There are many views to include within a review like this, and sometimes the committee was required to be accommodating in its recommendations.
The result is a far superior and more modern syllabus that reflects the needs of the procurement profession today!”
What are the highlights?
Here is an overview of the main changes, but we will publish a more detailed summary for each study module in subsequent posts:
Duplications were removed
Unclear and convoluted sentences were edited and made easier to understand for all
The logical positioning and sequencing of technical content was improved
References to the procurement and sourcing cycles were clarified: the new syllabus now focuses just on the CIPS Procurement Cycle
The previously unwieldy L4M4 module was edited down to a size that matches the other 6-credit modules, without losing excessive content
The L4M8 module was edited to include a requirement for financial calculations
The inclusion of Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) criteria was made to many of the modules
Key terms (such as whole-life asset management) were reviewed and standardised throughout the syllabus.
Learners who discuss the content of this new syllabus with colleagues who have just completed the CIPS Level 4 Diploma will find that 90-95% of the learning content remains exactly the same. The adage “don’t fix it, if it isn’t broken” was one of the key mantras of the review group.
The key take-away messages are:
It’s the same qualification
It requires the same number of hours study, for the same learning credits and the same types of exam
The number and structure of the study modules has not changed and nor have the exams
The main change is in the detail, where small-scale improvements have been made.
So, is it carry-on as before?
Almost, but not quite.
During 2023, CIPS updated all of its Level 4 study guides to reflect this new syllabus. Most of the previous study guide errors have now been edited out, but there are still a few (such as the reference to the UK still being in the EU …whoops!).
Here at Cordie, we have been extremely busy reviewing and updating our eLearning and other learning resources. You will now find our comprehensive eLearning support completely re-written to reflect the exact requirements of the new 2024 syllabus. This was no mean feat!
We have also reviewed and updated (and improved) our learning workbooks and our Question Banks of online multiple choice exam questions.
We still believe we offer the best resources in the world for CIPS qualifications, and many people tell us so! If you don’t believe us, why not ask for a demo to see for yourself?
How do I find out more?
A copy of the new 2024 version of the CIPS Level 4 Diploma syllabus can be found here.
All Cordie learners now have access to their study resources on our learning portal (the virtual purchasing academy, VPA) and so your study programme remains uninterrupted.
Over the next few days and weeks, we will publish an individual module-by-module summary of the updates and changes. This will be particularly helpful for anyone who studied last year, but is taking their exam this year.
Most of all, we are here to help. If there is anything we can do to support your CIPS learning then please do not hesitate to ask (…even if you are not one of our learners). You can get in touch with us directly using the contact details or contact form at the bottom of this page.