Nearly 80% of HR professionals not accredited: SHRI survey

Nearly 80% of HR professionals not accredited: SHRI survey
By Saifulbahri Ismail, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 21 January 2010 1657 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 Motorists travel over the bridge against the view of Singapore skyline.

 
SINGAPORE : There is a need to get more human resource (HR) personnel professionally accredited. The Singapore Human Resource Institute (SHRI) has said this is one way to lift their professionalism. 

David Ang, executive director, SHRI, said: "Through the accreditation, we aim to develop and help the HR practitioners add value to their career, and at the same time display competency level and capability in being an HR professional."

Mr Ang was speaking after the release of an SHRI survey which found that nearly eight in 10 people working in human resource have not been professionally accredited since a scheme to accredit them started in 2006. To date, close to 400 have been accredited.

SHRI is the only body in Singapore that accredits HR professionals. To gain accreditation, HR professionals need to practise for at least two years, and undergo a competency skills test.

Mr Ang said the institute is pushing to get more HR professionals certified and accredited. One of the ways is to target students at institutes of higher learning.

Mr Ang said: "We are informing the students of HR and HR-related disciplines to be aware of this competency framework which will enable them to grow in their career."

In the survey, 41 per cent of respondents also think they lack formal HR education, which is the main barrier for them to advance in their career.

The survey also found that the challenge for the HR industry moving forward is to develop advanced skills and capabilities required for professionals to play a more strategic role in the company. 

- CNA/ms

- wong chee tat :)