The Professional Associations Research Network (PARN) is a non-profit, member-led organisation with the mission statement;

'to increase the profile of issues relating to professionals, professionalism and professional bodies through research and networking with the aim of determining and promoting professional good practice'

PARN has been active in this field since 1999.

Membership

PARN is a membership organisation for professional associations and their regulatory bodies. Currently it has over 120 members in the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Canada, Australia and Kenya.

PARN's member organisations represent a wide range of professions, both established and emerging, including medicine, law, business, management, healthcare, engineering, construction, IT, education, sport and hospitality. They range in size from 150 to 100,000 members. One of the largest of these member organisations for example, is the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

Association of Chartered Certified Accountants

Founded in 1904, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants is the global body for professional accountants offering the Chartered Certified Accountant qualification . it is one of the largest and fastest-growing global accountancy bodies with 147,000 members and 424,000 students in 170...

 (ACCA).

PARN is led by a steering committee consisting of individual representatives from its member organisations who meet twice a year.

Research

PARN conducts research into continuing professional development

Continuing Professional Development

Continuing professional development or Continuing professional education is the means by which people maintain their knowledge and skills related to their professional lives.-CPD research:...

 (CPD), governance

Governance

Governance is the act of governing. It relates to decisions that define expectations, grant power, or verify performance. It consists of either a separate process or part of management or leadership processes...

, professional ethics

Professional ethics

Professional ethics encompass the personal and corporate standards of behaviour expected of professionals.- Professional ethics :Professional people and those working in acknowledged professions exercise specialist knowledge and skill...

, membership issues, equality and diversity (United Kingdom)

Equality and diversity (United Kingdom)

Equality and diversity is a term used in the United Kingdom to define and champion equality, diversity and human rights as defining values of society...

, and all other issues facing professional bodies. Research is conducted for the government, a consortium of members and for individual members to enhance the running of professional bodies.

Publications

PARN also publishes its findings on a regular basis. Publications include: Social Networking: Its benefits and challenges for professional bodies; Routes and Requirements for Becoming Professionally Qualified; Online Support for CPD; Distinguishing Canadian Professional Bodies; Distinguishing Australian Professional Bodies.

TotalProfessions.com portal project

PARN's recent project work in connection with Ashridge Communications on www.totalprofessions.com, provides a one-stop-shop for the professions, aiming to;

1. Inspire entry to the professions

2. Provide a resource for career choice

3. Widen access

4. Clear pathways to the professions

Organisations already in support of the collective initiative include;

Association of Corporate Treasurers

Association of Corporate Treasurers

The Association of Corporate Treasurers is the only British professional body specialising in the profession of corporate treasury. Founded in 1979, it is both an examining body, providing a wide range of qualifications for those working in treasury, risk and corporate finance, and a membership...

Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

Royal College of Nursing

Royal College of Nursing

The Royal College of Nursing is a union membership organisation with over 395,000 members in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1916, receiving its Royal Charter in 1928, Queen Elizabeth II is the patron...

Energy Institute

Energy Institute

The Energy Institute, commonly referred to as EI, is the main professional organization for the energy industry within the UK that promotes the safe, environmentally responsible and efficient supply and use of energy in all its forms and applications...

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain

The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain was formerly the statutory regulatory and professional body for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians in England, Scotland and Wales...

Institute of Directors

Institute of Directors

The Institute of Directors is a UK-based organisation, established in 1903 and incorporated by royal charter in 1906 to support, represent and set standards for company directors...

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors is an independent, representative professional body which regulates property professionals and surveyors in the United Kingdom and other sovereign nations....

Royal Society of Chemistry

Royal Society of Chemistry

The Royal Society of Chemistry is a learned society in the United Kingdom with the goal of "advancing the chemical sciences." It was formed in 1980 from the merger of the Chemical Society, the Royal Institute of Chemistry, the Faraday Society and the Society for Analytical Chemistry with a new...

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

Chartered Institute of Management Accountants

The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants is a United Kingdom-based professional body offering training and qualification in management accountancy and related subjects, focused on accounting for business; together with ongoing support for members.CIMA is one of a number of professional...

Chartered Insurance Institute

Chartered Insurance Institute

The Chartered Insurance Institute is a United Kingdom based professional organisation for those working in the insurance and financial services industries....

Chartered Institute of Building

Chartered Institute of Building

The Chartered Institute of Building is a body that represents professionals who work within the built environment in the United Kingdom.- History :...

Royal Society of Medicine

Royal Society of Medicine

The Royal Society of Medicine is a British charitable organisation whose main purpose is as a provider of medical education, running over 350 meetings and conferences each year.- History and overview :...

External links and references

http://www.parnglobal.com/ www.parnglobal.com

http://www.totalprofessions.com/ www.totalprofessions.com

http://www.accaglobal.com/ www.accaglobal.com