New Strategic Alliance with GCWAL

Members may recall that as part of the strategic planning process conducted during 2019/20, the ALARA Board sought strategic alliances with relevant organisations and entities. I am pleased to announce that ALARA has reached agreement on an alliance with the Global Centre for Work-Applied Learning (GCWAL).

GCWAL empowers individuals, teams and organisations to learn to enable change using the Work-Applied Learning (WAL) Model. The WAL model and process are grounded in Action Learning,  Action Research and Reflective Practice. The WAL model was developed by the GCWAL founder Emeritus Prof Selva Abraham. He also founded the Australian Institute of Business, which is the largest online provider of MBAs in Australia.

GCWAL has been a long-time collaborator and supporter of ALARA. ALARA has supported GCWAL conferences since 2013, and GCWAL has been a sponsor at several of ALARA’s conferences over the same period.

This new alliance produces many benefits for ALARA, its members and the Action Learning and Action Research communities generally.

1. Introduction of new professional certifications as Action Learning Facilitators and Action Learning Practitioners, co-badged by ALARA and GCWAL

   To receive one of these certifications, participants must complete virtual programmes, delivered at a high standard, based on academic research and practical application. Each programme requires participants to not only learn relevant change management and related management concepts and processes but also apply them.

    

   Completion of a programme earns the participants advanced standing in Master courses at Australian Institute of Business and Leeds Trinity University UK, and membership in ALARA.

    

   To learn more about these programmes, please download their brochures:

    
   • Facilitating Action Learning Teams
   
   
   • Implementing Work-Based Change
     
      
   
   
    


2. Support provided to ALARA by GCWAL to develop research in action learning and action research

   Over coming months, ALARA will announce research initiatives in areas related to action learning and action research. The research initiatives should lead to published papers and conference presentations.



3. Future development of education and development programmes by GCWAL in action research and other related fields

   GCWAL is working on developing programmes to meet the Action Learning and Action Research communities’ needs in education programmes.



4. Programme for developing leaders called Graduate Work Readiness Programme

   As the name implies, this programme develops those new to the workforce who have technical knowledge in their chosen career, but do not necessarily have people skills that are essential in the workplace. The Graduate Work Readiness Programme enables participants to reflect on and develop their people skills.



 

The ALARA Board looks forward to the continuing development of initiatives and programmes offered under the alliance with GCWAL.