Frequently Asked Questions
What are ISPE Communities of Practice (COPs)?
What are the benefits to joining an ISPE COP?
How many ISPE COPs are there?
What Communities of Practice are there?
How are new ISPE COPs started?
How are ISPE COPs governed?
What is the COP Council (COPC)?
What is a COP Steering Committee?
How do I join a COP?
Do I have to be an ISPE member to join a COP?
Do non-ISPE members have access to the same COP benefits as an ISPE member?
How do I join ISPE?
How do I participate in ISPE COPs?
How do I use this COP site?
How do I log in to my COPs?
What is the COP Home Page?
What is the Community Home Page?
What help or assistance is provided for using the COP site?
What are ISPE Communities of Practice?
By definition, a Community of Practice (COP) is a group of people that share a concern, a set of problems, or a passion about a topic, and who deepen their knowledge and expertise by interacting on an ongoing basis. ISPE COPs are global in nature and connect like-minded professionals with similar interests to collect valuable data and resources to be more effective at their jobs.
What are the benefits to joining an ISPE COP?
By joining a COP, members have the ability to connect with like-minded professionals through an interactive on-line community offering global networking opportunities and access to a community-specific Body of Knowledge.
How many ISPE COPs are there?
Currently there are 14 active ISPE Communities of Practice.
What Communities of Practice are there?
Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API), Biotechnology (Biotech), Commissioning and Qualification (C&Q), Containment, Critical Utilities (CU), Disposables, GAMP®, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), Investigational Products (IP), Packaging, Process Analytical Technology (PAT), Process/Product Development (PPD), Project Management (PM), and Sterile Products Processing (SPP).
How are new ISPE COPs started?
Suggestions for new communities may be submitted by clicking on "Suggest a Community" from any page on the COP site. The process detailed in the COP Handbook for proposing a new COP is to be followed. The final determination as to whether or not a new COP will be formed is made by the COP Council.
How are ISPE COPs governed?
ISPE COPs are governed by a Steering Committee comprised of ISPE volunteers that are highly knowledgeable and experienced in the discipline of the COP.
What is the COP Council (COPC)?
The COP Council is essentially the community for the communities and provides oversight and guidance to individual COPs.
What is a COP Steering Committee?
The COP Steering Committee is the governing body of the COP that is responsible for the development and growth of the particular COP. It is comprised of volunteers with extensive industry knowledge and experience.
How do I join a COP?
Simply click on the Join/Unjoin COP tab from any page on the site. Place a check mark next to each COP you wish to join and click "Join".
Do I have to be an ISPE member to join a COP?
No, anyone can join an ISPE COP regardless of whether they are an ISPE member
Do non-ISPE members have access to the same COP benefits as an ISPE member?
No, non-ISPE members do not have full access to Discussions as they can read the postings but cannot respond or ask a question. Non-ISPE members cannot access the ISPE Member/COP Member directory. Additionally, non-ISPE members do not have access to the following modules: files, links and resources, and Chat.
How do I join ISPE?
Click on "ISPE Home" from any page on the COP Web site and then click on "Membership". You can also visit www.ispe.org and click on "Membership".
How do I participate in ISPE COPs?
Joining one or multiple COPs is the first step toward connecting peers and colleagues around the world and collecting valuable data and resources to help you do your job better. Once you are a member you can participate in discussions, download white papers, get access to industry articles and technical documents, create your own profile and upload a photo, search other COP members, track personal and COP events on your calendar, and much more.
How do I use this COP site?
After joining one or multiple COPs, they will be listed under "My Communities" when you log in to the site. Simple click on the community you want to explore or participate in and begin using the modules. To exit a community and enter another one, click on "COP Home" as that will take you back to the My Communities. Then click on the other community you want to enter.
How do I log in to my COPs?
You can log in to your COPs one of two ways:
- Go to www.ispe.org/cops and enter your log in information
- Go to www.ispe.org and click on “Communities of Practice”
What is the COP Home Page?
When you first log in to the COP site you are taken to the COP Home Page. That is where the communities you have joined are listed under "My Communities".
What is the Community Home Page?
The Community Home Page is the home to a specific community that you have entered. That is where you can actively participate in your community by accessing the various modules, COP mail, and events calendar.
What help or assistance is provided for using the COP site?
Each of the modules has a Help feature that can be opened to provide basic information about how the module works. This is found to the right of the module name. Additionally, ISPE has developed a User’s Guide and Self-Demo/Tutorial that are found to the right of the photo in the COP banner underneath "Logout".