FHRD launches Professional Membership Scheme

by Karen Muscat Baldacchino – Malta Foundation for Human Resources Development CEO

The Malta Foundation for Human Resources Development (FHRD) has launched a new Professional Membership Scheme which will allow HR professionals to get recognised by FHRD for their level of HR Competence. This falls in line with FHRD’s mission to set national standards in the development of human resources in Malta.

While there are no changes to the corporate membership scheme currently in place, the FHRD Professional Membership Scheme is a comprehensive revamp of the individual membership scheme that has been in place so far.

The Professional Membership Scheme has three levels: Associate, Fellow, and a membership developed exclusively for students seeking a career in human resources.

Prospective candidates will have the opportunity to submit applications for any level, provided that they meet the specified eligibility conditions.

Apart from forming part of a thriving local network, enhancing professional credibility, and enriching the HR journey, key features of the Professional Membership Scheme include:

• A website specifically tailored to serve as a comprehensive platform for all Human Resources stakeholders.
• Exclusive access to industry insights: Members will gain privileged access to cutting-edge research and articles by experts in the field, providing them with a competitive edge in their professional endeavours.
• Tailored professional development opportunities: The scheme will offer a range of workshops, seminars, and training sessions conducted by industry experts to enhance members’ skills and knowledge.
• Networking events and forums: Members will have the opportunity to connect with professionals, industry leaders, and experts through exclusive networking events, fostering collaboration and partnerships.

FHRD has developed a framework of HR competencies based on nine functional competencies and nine enabling competencies.

Functional competencies relate to those skills required to perform tasks that are within the scope of HR Professionals while enabling competencies are more strategic competencies that are not specific to the HR profession, but which are deemed essential.

These competencies are divided into three core areas:

1. Individual Skills – Personal skills are recognised as soft skills which are not easy to teach. They are also known as interpersonal or ‘people’ skills. 
2. Team Skills – Teamwork skills consist of interrelated abilities that let you work effectively in an organised group. Teamwork skills are vital to employees, as teams are a basic organisational unit within many companies. Teamwork happens when people cooperate and use their individual skills to achieve common goals.
3. Organisational Skills – Organisational skills are the ability to manage time effectively, prioritise tasks, set goals, and develop systems for achieving those goals. Employees with good organisational skills can juggle multiple responsibilities simultaneously, stay focused on deadlines, and handle complex projects efficiently.

Each of the core areas above has three functional and three enabling competencies:

Individual Skills:

Functional competencies

• Organisational effectiveness
• People analytics
• Talent acquisition

Enabling competencies

• Critical thinking
• Tech savvy
• Research skills

Team Skills:

Functional competencies

• Compensation and reward
• Talent management
• Engagement and well-being

Enabling competencies

• Emotional intelligence
• Decision making
• Business acumen

Organisational Skills:

Functional competencies

• Employee relations
• Inclusion and diversity
• Learning and development

Enabling competencies

• Ethical behaviour
• Negotiation and influence
• Strategic leadership

Associate Membership Level:

This level is specifically tailored for HR professionals at the junior to mid-level who fulfill operational or administrative responsibilities. An associate member is envisioned to occupy roles such as HR Administrator, HR Generalist, HR Specialist, HR Business Partner, HR Assistant Manager, or an HR Manager with an operational focus (who reports to the Chief HR Officer or a Senior Manager in an HR function). The Associate Membership acknowledges one’s work experience and professional knowledge in the field of Human Resources.

Fellow Membership Level:

This level is intended for a senior-level HR professional who engages primarily in a strategic role, possesses numerous years of HR experience working on strategic projects, and consultancy, and forms part of an organisation’s senior management team. Fellow Membership acknowledges one’s vast work experience and substantial professional knowledge in the field of HR.

Student Membership Level:

The Student Membership is aimed at aspiring human resources professionals. It acknowledges a person’s dedication to academic advancement in the field of human resources and positions them on the path to professional recognition. This membership applies only to full-time students.

Renewals of the Associate and the Fellow Memberships will be possible subject to the candidate attending a number of HR-related events. The total number of required hours is 16, of which 10 must be in FHRD-organised events. The remainder can be obtained in any HR-related event, as long as a certificate of attendance is provided to the FHRD.

For further information about the scheme please visit: fhrd.org/professional-membership. For any inquiries, please email: professionalmembershipscheme@fhrd.org.

FHRD was set up in 1990 to spearhead the evolution of people management and development practices as well as the human resources profession in Malta. The Foundation is an autonomous, private, independent body and works in partnership with its corporate members, the professional conglomerate of HR practitioners and service providers, leaders of the industry, and other key local players in the field of human resources management and development.