The Human Resources Professional Association of Durham (HRPAD) and Human Resources students from the schools of Business and Information Technology at Durham College all benefited from a student-led membership survey.
In March 2007, third-year Human Resources Management students from the schools of Business and Information Technology at Durham College presented the Human Resources Professional Association of Durham (HRPAD) with the findings of a membership survey that the students themselves conducted and analyzed.
The class of 40 students contacted 400 members of the HRPAD in November 2006 to conduct a telephone survey developed in partnership with the HRPAD's membership committee. The results of these telephone interviews and completed online surveys - 65 responses in total - were then analyzed by student teams to identify key issues and trends in members' responses, and the findings subsequently delivered to the HRPAD.
The presentation was made by students Kim Holden, Lincoln Hall, Ryan Gunn and Sarah Boyd. Topics included the survey results, an analysis of local area human resources practitioners' opinions and comments regarding how the HRPAD is meeting their service expectations and professional development needs, lessons learned and suggested recommendations.
Gary Gannon, a professor at Durham College and a member of the HRPAD board of directors, feels the experience was an excellent way of integrating the theoretical aspects of his third-year course on organizational change and development with the practical application of professional human resources consulting services.
"This project was a great way for third-year Human Resources students to get real-time field experience as organizational development consultants," said Gannon. "They learned about survey design and implementation as well as how to analyze the key trends found in the responses from the local association members. The HRPAD board has already started to use some of the feedback gained from the survey to make changes to its programming and communication services. The HRPAD, its members and the students all benefited from this project."
The HRPAD is comprised of 400 members who represent more than 100 organizations and companies in the private and public sectors in Durham Region. Its goal is to make Durham Region an exemplary community in which to work and achieve successful business results by advocating excellence in the leadership of human resources, providing opportunities for professional development and advancement and promoting the human resources profession and designation. The HRPAD provides its members with the opportunity to network with local human resource professionals and participate in volunteer leadership in the local community, as well as access to post-secondary bursaries and scholarships, newsletters and special event and seminar pricing.
A report on the survey findings is scheduled to be distributed to HRPAD members shortly.