IoIC’s Advanced Diploma of Proficiency in Internal Communication is Part 2 of IoIC’s two-part qualification designed to help raise professional standards throughout the IC industry.
Individuals who have successfully completed Part 1 – the IoIC Foundation Diploma – will be automatically eligible to enrol for the Advanced Diploma.
Those who do not hold the Foundation Diploma can still qualify by taking IoIC’s pre-entry examination. The next examination date is Friday January 13 but places are now extremely limited.
Download the Advanced Level pre-examination and work assessment booking form (PDF)
The Advanced Diploma sets the standard of proficiency for an experienced IC practitioner. It calls for a greater depth of IC skills and knowledge than at Foundation Level, together with the broad business and organisational understanding expected of a professional on the threshold of management. Business understanding is a key differentiator between the Foundation and Advanced levels; understanding how IC fits into both the business and the organisation is a key aspect of attainment at the Advanced Level.
Preparing for and gaining the Advanced Diploma will:
• Ensure individuals have the depth of skills and knowledge for a continuing career in internal communications
• Give them more confidence in the workplace
• Allow them to add depth to their understanding of internal communications
• Offer the necessary background information to underpin best practice
• Provide an industry-recognised qualification
• Enable vital peer networking through IoIC membership
• Help advance their career
To gain the IoIC Advanced Level Diploma of Proficiency in Internal Communication, a candidate will have to demonstrate the following knowledge, skills and direct experience:
Knowledge
- Key elements of business – customers, shareholders, employees, the market, GDP and other basic metrics; purpose, value to society, types of organisation, business vocabulary, financial reporting process within own organisation
- Understanding the business strategy of your organisation
- Understanding business issues – competitive environment, product development, customer relationships, process improvements, impact of the economy
- How and where IC makes an impact/difference – communicating and supporting the business strategy, employee engagement, ethical conduct, measurement
- Organisational culture – structures and functions, visions, missions, values, behavioural types, negotiating, working in an inter-cultural environment
- Research and essential reading – key texts, the IoIC Knowledge Bank, other sources
Skills
- Interpersonal – active listening, checking understanding, exploring and challenging assumptions, networking and influencing skills.
- Management of meetings – setting objectives, preparing agendas, facilitating discussion, achieving outcomes
- Presentation – modelling effective techniques, mastery of the presentation environment, applying verbal tools, use of technology and visual aids
- Problem analysis and improvement techniques
- Successful behaviours – emotional intelligence, supporting managers, colleagues and team-members, recognising and working within limitations, self-reliance
- Planning and delivering IC programmes and channels – identifying required outcomes, planning, audience targeting, content and context, interacting with other communication stakeholders, establishing the brief, media/ channel selection
- Implementation – resource management, ensuring all the necessary delivery elements are in place
- Stakeholder management – gauging and managing executive perceptions, harnessing the influence of leaders
- Managing internal and external clients and suppliers – production budgets and schedules, managing work, presenting and evaluating draft material, giving and receiving feedback
- Measurement, evaluation and forward planning
Direct experience
- Working as an established team member, possibly with some managerial exposure
- Delivering communication campaigns
- Operating across a variety of channels and techniques to address a wide range of organisational audiences
This qualification, which will take around six months to achieve, is organised and delivered on behalf of IoIC by Knight Train & Consult Ltd. It is overseen by an independent industry monitoring panel.
The distinct elements of the qualification are:
An initial stimulus event, where the standards required to attain the qualification and the collaborative aspects of the diploma are fully explained. At the stimulus event, students will meet the other members of their ‘cohort’ of IC practitioners who are preparing for the qualification at the same time;
An experience portfolio, in which the student compiles material to provide evidence of attainment of each skill and area of knowledge required for the diploma. Students compile their portfolios back in the workplace;
A group challenge. IoIC will provide the cohort with a genuine IC-related challenge which will be explained by a senior IC practitioner at the stimulus event. Members of the cohort will then work together over the following weeks to study the underlying issue and prepare a report. The report will be received by the independent industry monitoring panel and each student’s contribution will count towards the individual’s diploma result. A facilitator assigned by IoIC will provide guidance to the cohort and will monitor individuals’ participation in the group challenge;
A final assessment event, in which each student will be interviewed by members of the industry monitoring panel.
Advanced Diploma bookings are being taken on an ongoing basis and cohorts will run as soon as enough eligible people have qualified to take the programme. The next cohort is scheduled to begin in late January or early February 2012.
• Please note: Anyone taking the programme agrees to abide by the rulings of the Institute.
If the Advanced Diploma interests you, find out How to apply and What it costs
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