The need for on-demand learning in people management is being met at NCI

National College of Ireland (NCI) has been renowned for its leadership in HR education for decades. Indeed, that reputation dates back to the college’s origins as the National College of Industrial Relations well over half a century ago. Throughout its history it has been a training ground for Ireland’s leading HR and industrial relations practitioners, and today partners with the Chartered Institute of Personal and Development (CIPD) to develop and deliver a number of human resource management, learning and development and people management courses.

“The CIPD is the professional body for HR practitioners,” explains programme director Rachel Doherty. “We have been running CIPD courses for more than 25 years and they are constantly revised and updated. The aim of the courses is to add value to organisations through people management.”

NCI currently offers two CIPD diploma programmes – the CIPD Diploma in People Management (Human Resources) and the CIPD Diploma in Organisational Learning & Development. Both lead to participants becoming CIPD qualified and gaining professional membership of the organisation. They also provide a pathway to degree programmes at NCI.

According to Doherty, the Diploma in People Management is ideal for those working in HR and wishing to develop a career in the area. “They might be working in an area where they are leading a team and want to gain people management skills. The course covers employment law, reward, organisational performance and culture, talent management, and employment relationships.  The part-time Diploma in Organisational Learning and Development has modules on digital learning, design, facilitation, self-directed and social learning, and organisation performance and culture. It is ideally suited to individuals already involved in training and development, those working in HR and wishing to develop a career in organisational learning and development.”

Programme delivery was affected by the pandemic, but in quite a positive way ultimately. “We had to pivot to online delivery overnight back in March of 2020,” Doherty recalls. “We will continue to offer the Diploma in People Management in both a live online and a blended format while the Diploma in Organisational Learning and Development will be delivered through a blended format. This will make it much easier for people with family and other commitments to access the courses. It will also facilitate people who live and work outside of Dublin. Three years ago, we had a woman who came over from Germany to Ireland to do the programme. She wouldn’t have to do that now.”

The shift to the hybrid working model and fully remote arrangements has implications for the war for talent

The main focus of the people management diploma is on human capital management and development and on facilitating the creation of a good organisational culture. This also has relevance for organisations dealing with the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This has presented challenges for HR,” Doherty notes. “The shift to the hybrid working model and fully remote arrangements has implications for the war for talent. Organisations that don’t offer flexible working are not going to attract and retain the best talent. This is where the peer learning aspects of the programme come in. Best practice in these areas has never been defined and people on the course were able to figure it out together.”

The organisational learning and development diploma also addresses changes in the world of work. “So many people want on demand learning now,” Doherty points out. “They want to be able to go online and select a short course or module that delivers the skill they are looking for. Learning and development departments are not just creating content, they are getting staff to do it and they are curating it.”

Diploma in People Management participant Carl Malone comes from a sales background but has found himself drawn to the HR and talent management area in recent years. “I worked for some of Ireland’s most iconic brands before moving into the jewellery business and then to PayPal,” he says. “I work with UK small businesses to facilitate contactless payments. I’ve been working with PayPal for four years and have found myself gravitating towards employee engagement. I became a wellness ambassador for PayPal. In that role I try to get people onto wellness programmes for their physical, mental, and emotional health.”

With his interest in the area piqued he went on the lookout for a formal qualification. “I looked around for courses and found that that National College of Ireland is very much at the top of the class in the area,” he says. “I have a couple of friends who are involved in HR in other organisations, and I talked to them about qualifications. They told me that NCI is at the forefront of employment relations and HR.”

He points to the employment law, management skills, facilitation skills, and negotiation skills elements of the course as among the most useful in a practical sense. “The lecturers were very on the ball in terms of the employment changes that had come about due to Covid 19. It was a very interesting time to do the diploma.”

The reward and recognition aspect was particularly interesting, he adds. “It’s ultimately about understanding employees and what motivates them. Retention and attrition are huge issues for companies who face very high costs in terms of hiring and offboarding as well as the time and resources they put into training. If you can understand that it will help the organisation as a whole.

The two courses are open for applications at the moment. They filled up very quickly last year

“Talent reward programmes are not just about pay,” he continues. “You have to provide support for people. That may be as simple as the bike to work scheme or helping people who are dealing with life pressures. I am very lucky that PayPal has supported me with the cost of the course and have recognised the value of the qualification and what I have been able to bring to the team as a result.”

Doherty points to the practical nature of the assessment methods employed by the college. “There are no traditional written exams,” she says. “Instead, there is a mix of written projects and practical exams such as interviewing a candidate, conducting a HR investigation, and facilitating a training session.”

The next programmes commence in September, but she advises people to apply early. “The two courses are open for applications at the moment. They filled up very quickly last year and we had to draw up waiting lists. People should apply before mid-August to be sure of getting a place.”

You can find out more about the CIPD programmes at NCI by visiting ncirl.ie/Study/CIPD-Courses, or call 1850 221721. NCI will also be hosting an online open evening on Thursday 12^th August from 5pm.