Top of Mind

FROM THE HRNZ CHIEF EXECUTIVE

I was recently a part of a panel to review the University of Auckland’s postgraduate programmes in human resource management. It was a timely invitation because HRNZ had just completed the development of The Path – the new Capability Framework for human resource professionals.

It’s encouraging to see the University of Auckland offering these programmes and also involving industry representatives when they review them. It’s of great importance for the human resource profession and New Zealand employers in general that there is a pipeline of work-ready graduates coming through to fill human resource roles in our organisations in the future. The practice of human resource management these days is far too complex to leave it to chance that the talent will emerge from our education system ready to take on these roles. It’s therefore crucial that graduates have access to appropriate programmes of study that will provide them with the foundational knowledge they will need as HR professionals.

understand and start to develop these capabilities before they enter the profession.

Developing a pipeline of future HR talent is a key concern for HRNZ, and we have several initiatives under way to support this. Student membership is the starting point –as people commence their study in HR, we want to start building their network of industry connections that provide opportunities for entering the profession and also support for them once they have secured their first role.

HRNZ is reaching out through its membership to find internship opportunities for student members. Internships are an excellent mechanism for giving students a glimpse into the workings of an HR department and an idea of the types of workplace challenges they will ultimately be dealing with.

In 2023 HRNZ will also begin looking at programmes to encourage high school students to consider careers in human resources. There is a low level of awareness of HR as a career option for students. We want to make sure that students entering tertiary study consider HR as a great career choice and select an appropriate programme of study to take them in that direction.

Like all occupations, HR is facing a war for talent and an impending talent shortage. As much as we are responsible for helping other occupations address these problems, we must also get our own house in order.

It’s a core proposition for HRNZ to grow the HR profession. We’ll be doing what we can to build that pipeline for the future and ensure students get on the right path from an early stage.

Nick McKissack Chief Executive HRNZ Nick.McKissack@hrnz.org.nz