There are numerous justifications for the worldwide shift, since the late 20th century, toward professional qualifications (PQs): the practical knowledge offered by these programs, their global character, the fact that they certify one’s competency and employability through continuing professional development, and the continuous renewal of their syllabi in response to the needs of organizations and professions, which must be practical, adapt quickly to change, and update constantly. In an era of academic inflation, the university degree does not necessarily provide differentiation. Do PQs differentiate professionals and provide a competitive advantage to the organizations that embrace them? It is important to have a way to guarantee competence, professionalism and employability. Associations seem to be taking the lead when it comes to employee requirements, advancement and mobility. This session looks at cases and examples from the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and Asia to evaluate the trend within the context of change, talent development and management.

Learning Objectives:

• Discover the value of professional designations and how to best assess them for different career paths.
• Apply policies within your organization to embed international designations as options for development and for raising employability levels.
• Evaluate and discover trends and practices outside the U.S., useful for multinational firms operating abroad that seek a standardized approach to career management and development.
• Examine such issues as hyper-specialization, continuing professional development, the corporate academy, employability and motivation.
• Are you certified and up to date in your area of expertise? Does your organization have a policy in support of certification training?