Past PARN events

The Future of the Professions explored issues relating to future developments for professionals and professional bodies as well as the impact and value of the professions. The conference addressed these issues through a series of substantial research reports on the subject: “Twenty-First Century Professionalism: Raising Standards and Building Trust” produced by CII.  “British Professions Today: The State of the Sector” produced by Spada on behalf of The Law Society, RICS and CIMA. “An Economic Impact Assessment of the CCPMO” produced for the Consultative Committee for Professional Management Organisations (CCPMO). At the conference professional bodies addressed these pressing issues and delegates had the opportunity to discuss and debate ways to move the professions forward. Speakers...

16th of September 2009, Woburn House, London The Fairer Access to the Professions conference aimed to provide practical advice and examples of interesting practice for employers wanting to ensure that they are embedding diversity and fairness into all their recruitment practices. It examined interesting practice in ‘diverse’ recruitment processes as developed by employers; stimulated debate and learning around recruitment and retention and progression practices and highlighted what employers can do to help overcome the barriers to diversity in the professions. Please click here to view the full programme from this event. If you are interested to find out more about our forthcoming PARN events please visit our event page. PARN members are entitled to one free annual place on a...

4 March 2009 Woburn House, London As membership organisations, professional bodies traditionally have been led and governed by volunteers. However, as the functions of professional bodies become more business-like and strategic so the role of volunteers becomes more complex. What is the future role of the volunteer in professional bodies? How do professional bodies best employ their volunteers’ skills and knowledge in the workplace?   The conference covered a number of pertinent and applicable themes including: Governance versus management roles Organisational roles (particularly in smaller bodies) Using volunteers as ‘experts’ Volunteer use for specific projects or task forces Please click here to view the programme from this event. Delegate feedback from the event:  “A good...

CPD Output Measures and Support conference  16-17 June 2009 Trinity College, Dublin One of the main trends in CPD is the move towards measuring by outputs rather than, or as well as, inputs. The conference mainly reported on PARN’s research on output measurements which was conducted in 2007 and commissioned by the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC). Please click here to download PARN's research report for IFAC. This presentation has offered alternatives for approaching output measurement, its difficulties and ways to succeed. This event was aimed at all working in professional standards and CPD, as well as the strategic thinkers who are responsible for shaping their professional body in response to the needs of the profession. Overview of event: The conference started with an...

10th December 2008 Woburn House, London Professional bodies have an important part to play in the routes and requirements for entry to the professions.  These routes and requirements vary greatly between professions and between professional bodies and there is often debate over the worth of examination-based entry versus on the job experience. There are also new tensions associated with the growing number of graduates and the changing pattern in higher education and career progression. There is ambiguity surrounding the role of professional bodies with regard to initial professional qualifications in the context of the new Government skills agenda, widening access to the professions and an overriding emphasis on the skills required of professionals by employers. Is the control of these...

Wednesday 24 March 2010 Woburn House, London Click here to download a full event brochure. The Future of Member Networks presented an in-depth look at the results from PARN's recent research on professionals' use of Web 2.0. Presentations on interesting practice in professional networking and case stuides of organisations who have used these technologies guided delegates in transforming social networking from a "good idea" to a successful initiative that improves communication with members and fits the organisation's strategy. Event presentations can be downloaded by clicking on the links below: Research Perspective: Professional Networking Interesting Practice, Sarah Ellis, PARN Perspective from the Field: Professional Networking Interesting Practice, Michael Collins and Peter...