In keeping with its policy of meeting membership requirements – as well as maintaining its position as a leading provider of accredited and modular security management qualifications achieved through formal examinations – the International Institute of Security is now in the throes of making some fundamental changes to organisational and admissions procedures. Peter Jones explains the reasoning to SMT's readers.
With a substantial vote in favour of doing so, the membership of the International Institute of Security (IISec) has called for a restructuring of the membership qualification categories and designations. A restructuring that will bring them neatly into line with present membership take-up.

The basis of the restructuring originates from the fairly recent upgrading and expansion of the examination system, the percentage of existing members and examination candidates now in possession of (or undertaking) the manager level qualification and the requirement for rationalising the Institute's qualification designations such that they fall into step with other issues currently affecting the wider security industry – including Security Industry Authority regulation.

It should be emphasised that the change voted for constitutes a change in designation only and doesn't materially affect the qualification process itself. That said, it does give a somewhat fairer indication of the enhanced standards achieved.

As far as the present membership is concerned, all existing 'Members' of the Institute will be re-designated as 'Diplomates' and all current 'Graduates' re-titled as 'Members', thereby totally removing the dated – it has been so ever since 1968 – designation of 'Graduate'. All of this is effective as at 1 January 2004.

The present designation of 'Diplomate' was introduced a number of years ago to cater for security practitioners who undertook academic study at certain universities which presented learning and qualification programmes in line with Institute subject requirements. As already mentioned, the raising of Institute standards to a more comparative level with academic studies makes it appropriate for current 'Members' to carry the same designation as their colleagues who hold 'Diplomate' status.

Adjustments at 'Manager' level
While in the past the IISec qualification requirement at 'Manager' level was for success in six mandatory modules, with additional modules being available on a voluntary basis, the mandatory element has now been reduced to three core modules, entitled English Law (or an approved alternative law module in respect of another legal jurisdiction), management and fire prevention and control/Health and Safety.

Success in an additional three modules from the selective range available at the time will complete the qualifications process. Selective modules that are currently available comprise the security of corporate assets, the protection of persons, equipment, information and goods, emergency situations, practical retail security, hotel security management, information security and distribution security (road, rail and sea). An even wider range of additional selective modules is in the pipeline, and should be introduced later on this year.

It's anticipated that with such a wide-ranging selective process available beyond the core assessment criteria, the Institute's examinations at 'Manager' level will be welcomed as more appropriate to a broader range of managerial security practitioners – and therefore generate a substantially larger examination entry leading, hopefully, to an increase in Institute membership.

It’s anticipated that with such a wide-ranging selective process available beyond the core assessment criteria, the Institute’s examinations at ‘Manager’ level will be welcomed as more appropriate to a broader range of practitioners

Strengthening the Board
It has been proposed that the Board of IISec be strengthened by the facility to accommodate an additional four directors. This will raise the complete complement to a possible total of 14 elected directors in addition to three appointed non-executive directors. That way, the heavy workload may be spread more evenly.

This doesn't mean that all Board vacancies will necessarily be filled in the short term. However, it will facilitate such appointments as necessity dictates and finances allow. The matter will be presented as an adjustment to the IISec's Memorandum and Articles for voting by the membership. Ratification of the majority decision is expected at the Institute's 2004 Annual General Meeting.

Responsible to myself, a Membership Committee has been formed from within the Institute's existing membership ranks. Through direct contact with those members, the Committee's basic objective is to communicate the researched and reasonable wishes of the membership to the IISec Board, who will subsequently endeavour to meet those requirements in respect of what they additionally expect from membership of a professional body which aren't already forthcoming from the Institute.

From time to time, former members of the Institute have – for whatever reason – failed to continue their membership possibly for a number of years, but then subsequently find that due to circumstance they wish to rejoin. The situation has now been formalised to cope with such requests, and a standard procedure is to be adopted – as outlined in a newly-introduced Bye-Law of the Institute available on its web site (www.iisec.co.uk).

So that we don't present recent or immediate future applicants for re-admission with any additional and unnecessary hardship along the way, these general rules will be relaxed in the early part of 2004 until such time as full financial implementation takes place.

Continuing Professional Development
With the advent of the licensing process affecting many security practitioners at all levels, an essential element in respect of licence renewals will likely be the ability of a given applicant to prove that they've undertaken some form of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) during the validity period of an existing licence.

In practice, this could consist of the acquisition of new security-related skills, or simply an update of existing knowledge.

Source

SMT

Postscript

  • Peter Jones FIPI FIISec is chief executive of the International Institute of Security

  • For further information on the IISec, its qualification procedures or the provision of training for security managers, readers of SMT should contact company secretary Paula Stanbridge on 01803 663275