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

Dr Ruth HermanProfessional Development Manager, Business School

17 June 2011www.herts.ac.uk

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

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

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

• Access to students for projects• Access to expert speakers• Use of facilities– Bodies often have to pay for commercial

accommodation

Opportunities

UHBS Strategy

• 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)

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

Downside

• Attendance at committee meetings (usually evening)

• Somebody has to maintain and manage overall relationships

• Labour intensive• Working with committees can be hard work

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

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?