Comms Council launches professional development courses including one for wannabe adlanders
The Communications Council is launching a new professional development qualification in Australia, licensing the scheme created by its counterpart in the UK the Institute of Practitioners in Advertising (IPA).
New courses will include an online course for people looking to get into the industry which entails 30 hours of online learning and a two-hour exam, whilst other courses will target more senior practitioners across a range of skills.
Visiting Sydney for the launch of the program, Ian Priest, president of the IPA and founder of VCCP said the aim of the new scheme is to “set benchmarks”, adding: “There is clear evidence from our agencies in the UK of the direct and powerful link between investing in people and business performance – ultimately our thinking adds value to our clients’ brands and drives real competitive growth.”
Margaret Zabel, CEO, The Communications Council said in a statement: “Elevating the industry’s continuous professional development to a global standard provides the necessary opportunities required to attract and retain today’s best talent. Collaborating with the IPA ensures access to internationally recognised and respected qualifications and also lays the foundation for The Communications Council to go on to deliver individual accreditation to those within our industry.”
The courses – which are the next “evolution” of the Communications Council’s AdSchool with the new courses replacing a number of the AdSchool courses, with some of the more specialist courses to remain – are offered to members at a discounted rate. The IPA Foundation Certificate, which the Communications Council describes as the key entry level qualification for junior adlanders, is priced for members at $795 and non members $1295. The IPA Campaign Planning Course, which is set to be chaired by Droga5’s Sudeep Gohil and is the first “experiential” course to roll out, would set back members $2,500 and non members $4,000. It would see delegates attend a three day, intensive residential course as they are taken from client brief to campaign solution so as to create understanding of how strategic, creative and media planning is integral to the creation of effective advertising.
The tutors, who Zabel said would be industry leaders and experts, will give up their time to be involved with the courses on a voluntary basis.
Fantastic and congratulations Margaret on a great initiative & program ! Now to have creative agencies report their training hours as part maintaining their accreditation & to ensure agencies are developing their talent for the future success of the industry. This will then ensure industry benchmarks and consistent high standards in development & training are maintained.
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