This morning I thought that I'd just share with you my considered response to the letter written by Mr Cawthra at Stevenage Borough Council recently who commented on a letter I had written 'business impact may not be top priority for all in HR'.
One of the points raised in my letter had asked as to whether there was a 'systemic case of denial' in that the School's new qualification the HCMI was just being ignored in the hope that it would go away?
Because it's not everyday that a profession gets a new practitioner qualification with a mandated CPD requirement - in this case HR. And this was borne out of much work with clients and a response to increasing market 'pull'.
Whilst I acknowledge and appreciate people engaging in debate, I am afraid too often disappointed with the lack of clarity or distorted assumptions some make and especially when it is in print. My response here will provide readers with some more insight in the hope of more enlightenment. So onto Mr Cawthra's response.........
Let me first acknowledge Mr cawthra's positive comment regarding our website and that is a new and laudable venture. But then it goes backwards from here. I'm not sure if Mr C is actually aware that the School is affiliated with VaLUENTiS (which is known very much in local government) which may account for some of his comments.
No denying but what a shame....
I cannot deny any of Mr Cawthra's comments in as much as you cannot really deny the existence of God. However, we are not aware that Mr Cawthra has spoken to any of our team or indeed asked for a reference from any of our current student-professionals. Which is a shame.
HCMI what it is and what it isn't
But let me clarify and try to answer some of the points raised. Our qualification is a practitioner based qualification in the same vein as that of CIPD or IiP (if it can be called as much). It is not a pure academic qualification. However, it has a solid academic foundation. It has a blended learning approach with case based studies (many from Harvard) but it is fused with actual real client work and scenarios. I am not going to discuss the syllabus here (that's available from ISHCM and see previous blog comment). But it is not another me-too university product. We are a professional services firm that has generated a business school (the only one in the world I might add) in the exact opposite manner to a university that offers consulting. It's been interesting to note how a number of academics have started to call themselves practitioners since we came to market. Mmmmm......
A note on quality
Much is made in the qualifications market of the QAA stamp. The QAA is just basically a process-driven framework (much like BS5750) but which provides a few artificial barriers to those from the outside. We already practise many quality processes through our client work which of course has included delivering management development programmes and workshops. It isn't a big step for us.
We come from a continuous improvement mindset which means that we will be constantly looking to make adjustments where required. But it is part of our nature its embedded. We don't need to hide behind stamps. In fact we are creating a new one ourselves.
Value
Indeed, last year Henley, to much fanfare, launched ( a week after ours) its MSc in HRM to much fanfare. In September it pulled it due to lack of interest. However, Henley still enjoys the limelight in HR industry terms as news is not widely known. Also, there are many comments I hear daily (and if you're not sure visit some blogs on google) questioning the very nature of the CIPD. So what value are we talking about here about current suppliers?
Cost
The cost of the course is currently £5750. We acknowledge that it is new which is why bursaries are being offered for a limited time reducing the price to £3500 (it was £3250). This compares with CIPD at £10,000 plus and numerous university qualifications (e.g. MSc in HRM) at £12k plus. But remember the HCMI includes leading edge content, is commercially knowledge-orientated, has an international as well as domestic focus, and is action learning driven (using Harvard case material). I'm not sure that any other course in the UK can match it?
Proof of quality/value
It's early days but I'll mention one of the comments after the first seminar/workshop by a CIPD-qualified student-professional on the course - 'there is no comparison' (positively skewed to ISHCM that is).
Also bear in mind that the School exists with no public funding, i.e. it stands or falls on its 'value offering' to the market. A number of professionals have already made a choice to undertake the HCMI. For those we are grateful and trust that they get far more out of it than they ever imagined. And we welcome our next intakes for this year and next.
Right or wrong? Sceptics versus believers?
So for Mr Cawthra and for those who may have the same opinion. Sure, your comments are valid.....to a point. Sure.....it perhaps would be much better for those in recruitment and training if we did go away - it keeps things nice and simple. It doesn't rock the industry boat. It will just be disappointing that an innovation was dumped by 'professional' apathy.
But if you're wrong - you, other practitioner sceptics, the CIPD, some universities and some of the press will have to acknowledge what CHUMPS you've been.......(and that a systemic case of denial did exist)
But don't take it to heart - see you on the course!
