Building Bridges

Introduction:

Rewind back to spring 2020 when the UK and most of the world was plunged into absolute chaos. Back to a time when the majority of us were all forced to stay indoors, where parents were all struggling with the concept of home schooling, and when that one walk a day became the focal point of our daily routines. The economy aside, the stress and disruption from the COVID-19 pandemic will also be long lasting. 

However, amidst all that doom and gloom, I did also experience some small wins, and I am all for celebrating even the tiniest moments of work joy to boost morale and team spirit. On this particular occasion, I was having my own time-out having reached the end of my tether with home schooling my 9-year-old son. Checking through my work emails, I stumbled upon an email from the Professional Associations of Research Networks (PARN), who were forming a new Accreditation Special Interest Group (SIG) and were calling for anyone involved in accreditation to become Steers for the group. Desperate to understand and learn from other professional bodies in how they were managing their accreditation processes since travel had become impossible, I promptly replied expressing my interest in joining the group. After all, I can’t work for a professional body and not appreciate the benefits of networking, but I’ll be honest until I joined that group I don’t think I fully recognised its importance and immeasurable value it can bring. 

Forging Connections:

Driven by enthusiasm and eagerness, but to be quite frank mostly by desperation, I turned out to be the first person to join the SIG, which subsequently earned me the title of 'Lead steer.' Luckily, and with much relief, two more professionals joined the group as co-steerers, and we organised several online meetings throughout 2020 and early 2021. The group attracted a diverse audience of 15 to 20 participants representing different professional bodies and various roles in membership, quality, and accreditation. Through those meetings I gained invaluable knowledge allowing me to adapt our accreditation processes, understand the impact of a ‘No detriment policy’, and temporarily carry out accreditation visits online, which also meant that we were able to reduce our back log of accreditations going into 2021 and 2022.

Renewed Growth and Expertise:

After a temporary pause at the end of 2021 due to staff changes at PARN, the Accreditation SIG was revived in spring 2022 with the addition of three new steerers: Jan Lonnen, Senior Qualifications Manager at the Association for Project Management; Kim Smith, Accreditation and Chartered Chemist Programme Manager at the Royal Society of Chemistry; and Captain John Lloyd, the CEO of the Nautical Institute. Their collective wealth of experience and knowledge only further enhances the collaborative efforts of the SIG.

Knowledge Sharing and Insights:

Highlighting the SIG's commitment to sharing knowledge and fostering innovation, our first meeting of 2023, was held in March. The event featured two brilliant speakers who added tremendous value to the discussion. Amanda Rosewarne, the founder of the CPD Standards Office, delivered a useful presentation on verifying CPD learning in a post-pandemic world. Additionally, Emma Carpenter, the Accreditation Officer at the University of Salford's School of Science, Engineering & Environment, shared her experience and insights on accreditation from the university's perspective, offering valuable feedback on the existing processes. Through her presentation, I have since produced brand new Accreditation Guidance notes, which provide detailed information for institutions seeking CIOB accreditation.

Our summer meeting focussed on the very hot topic of artificial intelligence specifically in academia. We were thrilled to welcome two distinguished speakers: Dr. Thomas Lancaster from Imperial College London and Professor Ian Turner from the University of Derby. They shared their invaluable insights and experiences regarding ChatGPT and the pressing issue of contract cheating in academia. This webinar is available to watch through our Knowledge Hub and is free to CIOB members and a small fee for non-members.

https://www.ciobacademy.org/product/gpt-ai-and-contract-cheating/ 

Conclusion:

Following on from this webinar, it seemed very fitting to get ChatGPT to write me a conclusion to my article. Make of it what you will:

In conclusion, the journey of the Accreditation SIG highlights the transformative power of collaboration in higher education accreditation. Born out of necessity during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the SIG evolved into a dynamic forum for professionals from diverse backgrounds. Through knowledge sharing, innovative insights, and strategic partnerships, the SIG not only adapted to the changing landscape but also thrived, demonstrating the immeasurable value of forging connections and fostering a culture of collaboration in the pursuit of educational excellence.