1. The AGCAS Membership Quality Standard (Consultation)

2. Outline of the session
The AGCAS Membership Quality Standard – how did we get here?
Our work so far
Your opportunity for input
Next steps

3. The quality journey Matrix as a condition of AGCAS membership
2002–2013
Matrix as a condition of AGCAS membership
2014
HoS vote — commitment to the AGCAS code of practice, not Matrix, becomes a condition of membership
2016
New AGCAS Strategy: Quality is one of the five strands
2017
Work begins on AGCAS’ aim to be recognised as a professional body by developing:
Professional standards and codes of conduct for the HE careers sector
AGCAS quality assurance and continuous improvement processes for members
2018
Consultation on draft standard for services
Piloting (and implementation) begins

4. AGCAS Strategy
To deliver AGCAS' Mission and Vision we are enabled by five strategic areas. These core strategic areas are underpinned by AGCAS’s financial sustainability; robust financial stewardship; the Board which represents the membership and provides strategic direction and well-motivated competent staff

5. AGCAS Strategy - Quality
AGCAS is the recognised professional body for higher education (HE) careers and employability professionals, backed by rigorous professional standards. The Quality agenda represents one of the core areas in AGCAS’s strategic plan as it underpins our drive to ensure careers advice and guidance is fully valued in today’s complex and ever-changing landscape of employability in the higher education sector. It is this agenda that ensures that AGCAS is, and continues to be, the recognised body for professional careers practitioners in HE.
We are working to define professional standards for higher education careers professionals, which will dovetail with a code of conduct and ethics for all AGCAS members. Once fully defined and implemented this will lead to the development and introduction of a full quality assurance system for all member services.

6. Points of principle
A quality membership standard will be established and assessed with an assumption of professionalism and trust between AGCAS and its member services
The standard needs to be relevant to all member services regardless of size, scope of responsibilities or institutional position
We do not seek to replace/replicate Matrix or any other existing quality framework
AGCAS needs its own membership quality standard in order to underpin its credibility as a professional association

7. Professional Association
“A profession is a disciplined group of individuals who adhere to ethical standards and uphold themselves to, and are accepted by, the public as possessing special knowledge and skills in a widely recognised body of learning derived from research, education and training at a high level, appropriate to their role. Individuals within the profession are prepared to exercise this knowledge and skills in the interest of others.” 
(adapted from Professions Australia, 2004)
“Formed usually to control entry into the profession, maintain standards, and represent the professions in discussions with other bodies”
Collins

8. Quality “the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind.” Oxford Dictionary - A degree of excellence - Conformance to requirements - Totality of characteristics which act to satisfy a need - Fitness for use - Fitness for purpose - Freedom from defects - Delighting customers

9. Quality matters To careers professionals In an institutional context
From a stakeholder perspective
To the credibility of AGCAS
For the survival of our profession

10. Our work so far

11. AGCAS Professionalism Working Party
Zoe Mitton, University of Huddersfield
Jim Reali, University of Birmingham
Ashleigh Wilson, Northumbria Business School
Dr Lorna Dargan, Newcastle University (soon University of St. Andrews)
Sam Rhodes, University of Brighton
Lizzie Mortimer, University of Edinburgh
John Kirwan, Oxford Brookes University
Marcus Andrews, AGCAS

13. The Service Lenses through which to view the AGCAS Quality Standard
Information
Employer Engagement
Enterprise [encompassing entrepreneurship and business start- up]
Advice and Guidance
Curricular/Co-Curricular Careers Education
Work Experience/Placements
Leadership and Management
Operations [encompassing IT, Data, Evaluation and Administration]
Marketing

14. Key outputs
A draft standard: 3 Themes, with 3 Pillars of Professionalism in each, and examples of possible evidence
A draft AGCAS Code of Ethics
A suggested way of implementing a Quality Standard as part of AGCAS membership

15. 3 Themes, 9 Pillars

16. .
Examples of Evidence
Pillar seven (P7) – Anticipating and adapting to trends and predictions in the world of work to ensure our services are relevant to current and future needs
Providing material in a range of formats that demonstrate understanding of changing labour markets and opportunity structures, their impact on stakeholders, and how this is disseminated.
Staff at all levels able to demonstrate an understanding of labour market changes and opportunity structures relevant to their institution and stakeholders
Evidence of active engagement and collaboration with businesses, employers, professional bodies and associations; in order to keep information fresh and up to date
Evidence of staff sharing their labour market knowledge and expertise via presentations, training sessions to stakeholders and other sector professionals

18. Process Service wishes to be a member of AGCAS
Has to complete a Self Evaluation Document demonstrating the necessary quality standards
Application is peer assessed
The quality standard is valid for three years

19. Summer Pilot 2018
Services asked to complete a self evaluation document (SED) for AGCAS that demonstrates that they are working in ways that map onto the 10 Pillars of Professionalism. This will operate on a three year cycle
AGCAS/Professionalism Working Party/Quality Director/Membership Manager reviews SEDs
Member services asked to express interest in a peer review visit following submission of their SED
AGCAS to have initial discussion with service / offer peer review visit where SED appears to be ‘light’ in any particular area
Interested colleagues (starting with the Professionalism Working Party and Quality Director) to train/be trained to conduct peer review visits (suggest 1 – 2 days)
Peer review ‘panels’ to be determined taking into account issues of competition between institutions.

20. Your opportunity for input

21. Your thoughts
What do you think of a quality standard for membership?
Any comments on the Themes and Pillars? Are there others we should have included?
What examples of evidence would you give for any of the Pillars?

22. Next steps
Consideration of today’s and wider comments by the Professionalism Working Party - meeting in June 2018
Proposal to AGCAS Board in June 2018
About 12 services are piloting the SED and approach over Spring/Summer 2018
Proposal to AGCAS Board re: implementation
Work begins on individual professional pathways

23. Thank you for your input
Sam Rhodes –