The Incorporated College: human resource development and human resource management ‐contradictions and options

Abstract

This article analyses what has happened to Further Education (FE) staff since incorporation and looks to the future. It argues that staff development needs to become a pivotal element in FE's strategic plans, yet has been marginalised in all but a few colleges in the struggle to survive the first few years of incorporation. From our research we discuss how FE management should move from human resource management (HRM) to human resource development (HRD). This is discussed, examining ‘caseloading’ where individuals or groups are given resources based on a caseload of students. We put forward a professional development framework for discussion and argue for a more strategic approach to staff development with a professional body setting standards and producing a national professional development framework for FE staff.