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Affiliate Accreditation Scheme: Further Details

BENEFITS OF AFFILIATION

Why should I become an affiliate?

  • Affiliates will be able to use this designation for marketing and professional advancement purposes. Affiliation signifies rigorous accreditation, not merely membership of an association, society, or affinity group. Affiliate status will be proactively positioned in University and CLS communications as a benchmark of practitioner quality; the ‘gold standard’ of professional excellence across a spectrum of leadership consultancy and practice. Such positioning, in a market where there is a plethora of activity but little differentiation, will provide the basis for real competitive advantage.
  • Affiliation will provide the opportunity to work in partnership with a community of practitioners of similar calibre, values and aspirations to one’s own. Shared values and rigorous accreditation should enable Affiliates to include other members of the community in their work with confidence.
  • Although at an early stage, accreditation is becoming an increasingly important component in the procurement of professional services by major organisations. A greater emphasis on public sector procurement policies, corporate governance and value-for-money audit is accelerating this trend. Our discussions with corporate and public sector clients suggest that the use of third party accreditation such as CLS Affiliate status would be an attractive option for companies.
  • Affiliates will have privileged access to the Centre for Leadership Studies, the Faculty and CLS Fellows. Such access would provide an additional range of resources, not only for professional/technical advice and assistance, but also in terms of marketing opportunities, academic facilities, and project resourcing.
  • The accreditation process itself is designed to be a significant developmental experience. The professional development of seasoned practitioners can never be a one-size-fits-all affair. Our combination of mentor plus accreditation workshops will make the process highly customised and therefore meaningful to prospective Affiliates at a very personal level. We value a diversity of approaches to leadership development and we want to be a home for innovative, creative and path-breaking approaches, as well as maintaining a careful and rigorous sense of professional standards. The accreditation process will encourage original methods and ideas and will not be undertaken against the backdrop of some notional ‘best practice’ leadership model.
  • Affiliation is the gateway to becoming directly involved in the work of the Centre, for example, personal and collaborative research projects, participation in CLS Fellows consulting assignments, and contributing to taught programmes as tutors, coaches or in other capacities. There will also be opportunities for appropriate research (individual or collaborative) to be published or presented at conferences under the auspices of the Centre.
  • Continuing professional development is at the heart of the Affiliation scheme and the Centre is committed to providing CPD events of the highest quality: relevant, authentic, innovative and international. Affiliates will be invited to the Centre’s acclaimed Annual Leadership Forum, a unique learning and networking event, co-sponsored by a consortium of leading European business schools. (Keynote speakers at this years event included Henry Mintzberg and Clare Short).
  • Wherever feasible, CPD events will be combined with attractive social events and opportunities to network widely with other Affiliates as well as Faculty, Fellows and international guests – making it both enjoyable and practical.

CPD Events

Five CPD workshops for Affiliates are envisaged for 2005 (precise content will be agreed in association with Affiliates). They might include:

  • What’s new and exciting in leadership research around the world?
  • Executive coaching masterclass
  • Leadership lessons from the world at war
  • Not only, but also: A multi-disciplinary perspective on leadership
  • Strategy, leadership and business performance.
  • Leadership risks and vulnerabilities (derailer) masterclass

In addition, affiiates will also be invited to the CLS Annual Leadership Forum in London.

Do I have to attend all CPD events to maintain Affiliate status?

No. Following on from feedback received during the launch we have revised our requirement for mandatory participation to only three CPD events per year. Approved non-CLS courses may also qualify for the mandatory requirement. Normally Affiliates will be expected to participate in at least two CLS sponsored CPD events.

Furthermore, in response to feedback and representations we’ve decided to eliminate the annual renewal fee for Affiliates. The only fees that apply will be the one-off application administration charge and the Affiliation fee payable upon on successful accreditation. CPD events will be charged for at rates similar to or below those that typically apply for equivalent developmental experiences.

I’m sure you will agree that the Affiliate programme is a unique opportunity to develop and leverage the skills and insights so crucial in building leadership effectiveness in organisation. We look forward to assisting you in taking advantage of this opportunity.

ELIGIBILITY

Affiliate accreditation is open to any individual who holds at least a first degree from a recognised university, and is actively engaged in the application or practice of disciplines relating to leadership and the development of leadership effectiveness.

In the process of accreditation you will be required to demonstrate that your level and range of experience, skill, personal capability and integrity are of a sufficient standard to enable the Centre for Leadership Studies to endorse your professional competence.

Selection process

The five-step process to achieving successful Affiliation is as follows:

  • Step 1: Register your interest with the CLS Professional Network Administrator using the enclosed form. If you meet basic eligibility requirements you will be asked to complete a comprehensive biographical inventory for submission to an Appointments Panel.
  • Step 2: The Panel will review the inventory and advise whether the submission has been successful and the status of Provisional Affiliate has been achieved. Alternatively, it may decide that information contained within the inventory is insufficient or inappropriate to the criteria of Affiliate status. Further information or elaboration may be requested by the Panel.
  • Step 3: Once a provisional status is confirmed, applicants will be allocated a mentor, appointed from the ranks of CLS Faculty, Fellows and Associates. Mentors are available to advise you on developing the effectiveness or scope of your professional activities in order to meet the criteria for Affiliates status. During this period, you will be invited to participate in a number of specific workshops conducted by CLS staff aimed at developing a number of core competencies deemed to be especially relevant to the requirements for Affiliate status.
  • Step 4: Provisional Affiliates will be required to present personally for peer review, a detailed account of their professional activities in the leadership arena, adopting the case method of discourse. You will also be asked to nominate a number of relevant stakeholders from whom additional feedback may be sought.
  • Step 5: On completion of the peer review the Appointments Panel may award the status of Affiliate of the Centre for Leadership Studies, University of Exeter, to applicants who have satisfied the Panel that they meet the requirements for Affiliate accreditation. If successful, you will be invoiced for your Membership fee. Affiliate status is renewable annually, subject to meeting prescribed CPD requirements.

Where applicants are unable to satisfy the Panel that they meet the criteria for Affiliate status, they may elect to extend their provisional status for a further 12 months, during which period they are eligible for a further qualifying peer review. Peer reviews will take place quarterly.

Fees
Application Fee £250 (includes all costs associated with the Affiliation process including individual feedback, mentoring & workshop programmes)
Membership Fee £500

Fees charged during the 12-month qualification period include the cost of participation in core mentoring and workshop programmes. CPD events following qualification will be charged for but at a significantly discounted rate.

NEXT STEPS

To register for the CLS Affiliate Accreditation Scheme please Download an Expression
of Interest Form. If you have any enquiries please contact Kay Garbutt.