Forming Alliances & Partnerships:A case study in collaboration

Presented byDon Smith, MSW, CMF Diane Moore, M.Ed.,CMF

Governor, Institute of Professor, George Brown College

Career Certification Board Member, Toronto Chapter,

International Association of Career Professionals International

CANNEXUS 2009

OUR OBJECTIVES TODAY

• To present the process used in establishing a formal alliance between George Brown College, the Association of Career Professionals International and the Institute of Career Certification International.

• To describe advantages, benefits and lessons learned in forming this alliance.

• To identify future challenges in maintaining partnership between GBC, ACPI and ICCI.

Who are we?DON SMITH, MSW, CMF

• 20 years with Murray Axmith & Associates• Previously with not-for-profits in Canada, USA & Europe• Masters degree in social work (MSW)• Canada’s first earned CMF (Career Management Fellow)• Governor, Institute of Career Certification International• Certified mental health practitioner with Ontario

Association of Consultants, Counsellors, Psychometrists & Psychotherapists

• Independent career coach in Toronto• Board Member with Toronto Chapter, ACPI

Who are we?DIANE MOORE, M.Ed., CMF

• Professor at George Brown College in Social Service Worker and Career & Work Counsellor Programs.

• 20+ years as a career counsellor, educator, consultant, author/editor.

• Achieved Career Management Fellow certification (CMF) through the Institute of Career Certification International in Nov 2008.

• Acts as liaison between GBC and ACPI/ICCI, including membership in Board of ACPI’s Toronto Chapter.

Three Partners in Alliance

• George Brown College’s Career & Work Counsellor Program (C&WCP)

• The Association of Career Professionals International (ACPI)

• The Institute of Career Certification International (The Institute)

George Brown College’s Career & Work Counsellor Program• Established in 1993.• Only two-year diploma program currently

available in the field in Ontario.• Only program of its kind in Canada offering a

special stream for Internationally Educated Professionals.

• Available full-time and part-time.• Full-time diploma program can be completed in

12 months (fast-track) to 16 months.• Part-time diploma can be completed in 3 to 4

years.

George Brown College’s Career & Work Counsellor Program

• Full-time program has three streams:– 16-month program for mature students and

high school graduates; begins September.– 12-month program for college and university

graduates, begins January.– 16-month program for internationally

educated professionals with post-secondary education received outside Canada, begins September.

– Students in all 3 streams finish at the same time (in December) and receive the same diploma.

George Brown College’s Career & Work Counsellor Program

• Full-time program includes two field practicums totalling 18 weeks.

• Approximately 90 students graduate from full-time program each year.

• Graduates work in a variety of employment settings, from corporate career services to community agencies.

• Grads may find work as career and employment counsellors, career development practitioners, corporate career planners, job search facilitators, vocational assessors or career information specialists.

George Brown College’s Career & Work Counsellor Program

• 90% of graduates have found work in the field. • Graduates meet national standards for Career and

Employment Counsellors.• In 2006, a special stream for Internationally Educated

Professionals was added to the full-time program.• Accepts 25 newcomers to Canada who have

professional credentials from their country of origin.• Students receive 4 months of specialized English

language instruction designed for ESL students along with regular curriculum.

The Association of Career Professionals International

• Established in 1989• A global, not-for-profit organization dedicated to

the success of its members who provide lifelong career and talent-related services in more than 20 countries.

• Headquartered in Washington, DC. • More than 2,000 members in 30 chapters

worldwide.• Provides extensive networking and professional

education events.

The Institute of Career Certification International

• World-wide credentialing body created in 1994 by ACP International and the Association of Career Firms International; headquartered in Washington, D.C.

• Career Management Professionals certified by ICCI come from a rich variety of business, government, education, freelance and non-profit backgrounds

• The only international, not-for-profit and independent certifying body for career services professionals.

• Certification is portfolio-based, demonstrating proven professional experience and expertise.

• Offers four levels of certification depending on practitioner’s years of experience and role in the field.

Snapshot: Pre-alliance

• CWC Program, ACPI and ICCI were operating as 3 separate silos.

• Grads of CWC program and faculty were involved in ACP events and board activities on informal basis.

• CWC Program had strong connections to the non-profit sector providing career services to the community.

• Weaker connections to corporate, freelance and for-profit sector.

Snapshot: Pre-alliance

• ACPI supported members working as career practitioners in the field.

• No formal mechanism for recruiting graduates entering the field to join ACPI.

• ICCI offered certification to practitioners in the field, but no formal process for marketing benefits of certification to grads entering the field or Alumni of GBC.

Timelines in Developing Alliance

• 2005: Discussions between CWC Program, ACPI and ICCI to review program’s curriculum; identify courses to count towards certification with ICCI by grads and alumni.

• 2007: Led to idea of formal alliance between bodies being proposed to all 3 organizations. Initiative led by Don Smith.

• 2008: Endorsed by ACPI and ICCI headquarters.

Timelines in Developing Alliance

• 2007: Created draft of Alliance Agreement; what it would mean for each party and what each would agree to do.

• 2008: Obtained final agreement in principle from the 3 parties to prepare document for signature.

• Summer 2008: Diane Moore appointed as institutional link between GBC and ACPI/ICCI.

Formalization of Alliance

• Summer 2008: Alliance agreement signed by principals. David Gray, ACPI Toronto Chapter President, assumes leadership role in planning.

• Fall 2008: Alliance formally announced at CWC Program’s 15th Anniversary Gala.

• Fall 2008: Establishment of online linkages and logo exchange between CWC, ACPI and ICCI.

• January 2009: Selection of 2 students from CWC Program to sit on Board of ACP’s Toronto Chapter.

Highlights of Alliance:Addresses 7 Key Areas

• Member recruitment.• Career/relationship building opportunities for

students and graduates.• Student membership rate.• Courses credited towards ICCI certification.• Joint promotion (logo exchanges/web site

links/educational opportunities/events).• Networking opportunities.• Content exchange.

Benefits of AllianceFor CWC Program

• Creates an immediate network for students.

• Gives graduates of CWC program an advantage in pursuing post-diploma certification through ICCI.

• Provides valuable connections to private sector and corporate practicum/work opportunities for current students and alumni.

• Offers current students and alumni opportunity to connect with mentors and experienced career practitioners through ACPI.

• Enhances even further the value of the Career & Work Counsellor Program.

Benefits of AllianceFor ACPI

• Promotion of ACPI education and networking events to CWC students and alumni. For example, March 2009 event on Best Career Practices had over 80 participants.

• Attraction of new ACPI members.

• Expansion and enrichment of neworks of career professionals with broader communication and referral potentials, enabling mutual welfare and benefit.

• Expand pool of available career professionals for career firms to hire as employees.

Benefits of AllianceFor ICCI

• Attraction of applications for Associate, CMP or CMF certification.

• Further publicity for awareness of career standards and value of ICCI certification.

• Strengthen recognition amongst purchasers of career services of importance of legitimate credentials in selection decisions.

• Promote ICCI tagline of certification as providing “Experience, Competence, Integrity”.

Lessons Learned• Alliances are essential in our current economy.

Silos go nowhere.• Alliances require a “champion” from each

organization during the development phase.• Value and benefits must be created and clearly

articulated from the beginning.• Takes time to establish; not an overnight

process. This Alliance required 3 years.• Importance of creating institutional links to

ensure continuity of commitment and mutual benefit for the future.

Challenges

• Took longer than expected.• Time, effort and energy are required for leaders to build

commitment for a developing Alliance.• Vision of potential benefits was not obvious at the

beginning of process.• Parties did not have the administrative power to require

acceptance of Alliance.• Getting all key players together at the table was difficult.• Process needed constant nurturance and monitoring to

ensure it didn’t lose momentum or suffer truncated development.

Future Steps

• Establishing routine process/timelines for cross-promotion.

• Creating special events for CWC students.• Developing methods to engage CWC alumni in

events and work up to certification.• Building a pool of practitioners with CMF

credential to sponsor students/alumni in certification process.

• Building pool of ACPI members to mentor students and alumni of CWC Program in preparation for certification.

For more information:

• George Brown College’s Career & Work Counsellor Program www.georgebrown.ca/Marketing/FTCal/comsrv/C109.aspx

• The Association of Career Professionals International www.acpinternational.org/main/homepage.aspx

• The Institute of Career Certification International www.careercertification.org/

• Donald Smith (416) 465-9779 donaldsmith@careercertification.org

• Diane Moore (416) 415-5000 x 2496 dmoore@georgebrown.ca