Working with Professional Bodies - The Training Gateway Working with the membership of professional bodies Dr Ruth H

1. Working with Professional Bodies - The Training Gateway Working with the membership of professional bodies • Dr Ruth Herman • Professional Development Manager, Business School • 17 June 2011 www.herts.ac.uk

2. Professional Bodies – working with the membership • Background (Concentration of business disciplines – does it vary for other professions?) • What’s in it for the university • How UHBS built up contacts • Examples

3. Professional Bodies – working with the membership • Professional bodies often split into two sections • Education and training • Run from HQ • In charge of awarding qualifications • Membership section • Run by and for members

4. Membership • Entirely separate from qualifications and training • Run usually in regions and branches • Committees run regions/branches • Remit: • Recruit new members • Maintain membership • Provide events and added value for members

5. Opportunities • Access to students for projects • Access to expert speakers • Use of facilities • Bodies often have to pay for commercial accommodation

6. UHBSStrategy • Centres delivering qualifications have automatic membership (eg CMI offers 6) • If possible become active member of own prof. body • Attend meetings • Offer facilities • Become committee member (one often follows seamlessly on)

7. Examples • Sponsorship of Herts Schools Business Challenge Day by Institute of Directors • Regular venue for Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (and opened doors to run successful professional courses) • Student branch for Chartered Management Institute • Live clients for MBAs, Integrated Projects, recruitment opportunities for students

8. Downside • Attendance at committee meetings (usually evening) • Somebody has to maintain and manage overall relationships • Labour intensive • Working with committees can be hard work

9. Benefits • Raises university profile in business community • Provides opportunity to sell professional courses and services • Access to members through newsletters and membership emails • Members often want to ‘give something back’ • Positively eager to • Give guest lectures • Provide case studies • Judge student competitions

10. Conclusion • Worthwhile exercise but needs to have somebody tasked with the role • Need to be creative in what is offered • For Business Schools is a natural extension of activities • Will it work as well for other disciplines and professions?