Workshop W103 Are we really a profession? Margaret Dane, AGCAS Chief Executive & Tom Davie, Professional Development

Brief history of the HE careers profession across the UK Higher education services started as university appointments services, some now over 100 years ago to introduce student “good chaps” to employer “good chaps” AGCAS founded as SCUAS in 1967 with around 40 member institutions in UK & Ireland – became AGCAS in 1977 AGCAS developed conferences, training and networking events to share knowledge, experience and good practice from the start AGCAS suite of HE qualification courses set up in early 1990s with the University of Reading & these transferred to the University of Warwick in 2010 with very good productive working relations Not all universities require recruits to have a prof. qualification

Elsewhere in the careers profession 1973 Employment & Training Act laid the foundation for the new UK local authority careers services with UK Secretary of State responsible for ensuring a consistent service for all young people Careers Officers were expected to have a professional qualification prior to entry but 1980s “privatisation” of careers services under Margaret Thatcher led to considerable differentiation and gaps Connexions Services were made responsible for a much wider range of services and focussed on NEET so HE applicants lost out Late 2000s Labour announced an Adult Advancement & Careers Service but after the 2010 election Coalition Government changed “adult” to “All-Age” National Careers Service and many careers professionals have lost their jobs because of funding gaps

HE careers services in the 21 st C 2002 AGCAS agreed to make matrix accreditation a condition of membership – revised to every 6 years in 2005 HE Careers Services have developed a stronger focus on work experience, employability & career management skills More recently many have been restructured often under student services and there have been job losses as part of HE cutbacks Role of careers services changing dramatically – reflected in diversity of service titles & staff roles Positioning and structure of services changing to reflect institutional drivers and priorities QAA Code of Practice for HE institutions and revised 2010

What makes a profession? Initial training & qualifications aimed at professional practice? Membership body with agreed professional standards, principles, values and code of practice and ethics? Continuing professional development ; career progression within and across sectors? Quality standards proving recognisably good service provision responsive to needs of users? Profile, recognition by others including public, government and other professions? Register of Practitioners recording membership, qualifications & CPD of registrants?

External Developments LLUK (Sector Skills Council) briefly made responsible for CEIAG on behalf of relevant employers but closed March 2011 Careers Profession Alliance - represents key professional bodies across whole of UK – is proposing a single or federal body representing all careers practitioners to develop collaboration of careers professional bodies through LLUK & earlier projects The Careers Sector Strategic Forum has been set up to represent stakeholders and users as well as professionals in the careers sector and regularly lobbies governments across the UK.

What are the issues for AGCAS of the CPA proposals  A new federal Careers Council  A new unitary Careers Institute  A new federal structure as an interim to a Careers Institute  AGCAS status quo but with a new strategic focus The cases for and against in simple terms!

For  We have a duty of responsibility to our profession so there are advantages to being part of a single Council or Institute  Unity is strength as the English government ‘pushes’ towards some form of all age careers service  Potential for sharing knowledge and professional practice across the whole ‘careers’ sector  We can show the government we care about professional standards and may therefore be less vulnerable to commercial organisations trying to bid and deliver our services  We could ‘buy time to think’ if we were to opt for a Careers Council and could opt out if the model doesn’t fit AGCAS and its members’ purpose.

Against  Our HE senior managers don’t care. Careers services are aligning themselves with the strategic aims of their institution, in a world of high tuition fees and an increased focus on employability  We have to protect the particular interest of our services, members and staff; the wider voice of an Institute or Council won’t do this  It is unclear how institutions, students, graduates or employers would benefit while tailored services might potentially be lost  This could potentially damage our relationship with our partners e.g. GP, Warwick University, AGR and others  There would be increased financial costs for services & institutions  There may be potential fragmentation within AGCAS

Your views matter Your Heads of Service have been asked to read the briefing they were sent and the documentation on the AGCAS website They were asked to discuss these with their staff teams and respond to a survey about the CPA proposals Members are encouraged to give them your views The Board need your ‘counsel’ before we decide what is best for our members.

It’s over to you Questions Your views