Equipping HR professionals for the C-suite

The idea of intelligent robots making the final decision on who fills a job vacancy could be far into the future, but in the meantime, human resources management is already undergoing a revolutionary transition — and AI is increasingly involved.

Human resources (HR) professionals are no longer confined to traditional administrative tasks, their role has expanded to encompass a multitude of specialities such as strategic planning, data analysis and leadership development.

UNSW Online master of human resource management graduates learn the skills to play crucial roles in an organisation’s development.

David Owens, managing director of HR Partners, a division of the world’s biggest recruitment agency Randstad, says AI is being used to help screen candidates so HR managers can work with a smaller number of people.

“AI is a feature of today’s HR landscape, but it’s not an all-pervading and comprehensive takeover of the function,” he says. “It’s still people-led.

“As a job family, HR has increased significantly to take in a wider range of impacting business initiatives – from organisational development, talent acquisition, culture and remuneration to lots and lots of other really business-critical areas.

“That has absolutely increased the demand for good HR professionals and the vast majority have an academic qualification; most have a bachelor’s degree, but a significant number of senior HR professionals have a master’s degree.”

Meeting the rising demand for HR professionals

Burgeoning opportunities in the HR field have led The University of New South Wales (UNSW) to introduce a new online master of human resource management (HRM) program that allows students to specialise in industry growth areas that encompass a wide range of specialised studies.

“It was created to meet a historically high demand for HR professionals,” says Dr Helen Parker, UNSW HRM online program director. “We looked at [analysis from] the Australian government’s Labour Market Insights showing the number of HR manager jobs is set to jump by 16 per cent within five years.

“Students can complete one online course every eight weeks and up to six courses a year. This means that through the accelerated program, you can achieve the master’s degree in as little as two years, which is pretty good considering most students will be working.”

Students can shape their studies by choosing to specialise in three areas: human resource analytics, leadership and organisational development, and diversity, equity and inclusion. There’s also a range of tailored elective courses available in line with students’ personal and career goals.

“As a job family, HR has increased significantly to take in a wider range of impacting business initiatives – from organisational development, talent acquisition, culture and remuneration to lots and lots of other really business-critical areas.”

David Owens, managing director of HR Partners

To be eligible for the online master of HR management program, students must have a recognised bachelor’s degree, or equivalent qualification, with a credit average of 65 per cent or higher.

For those who don’t qualify for direct entry, alternative pathways exist via graduate certificate programs in human resource management; human resource analytics; diversity, equity and inclusion; and leadership and organisational development, provided they are completed with a minimum weighted-average mark of 65.

Students can also complete up to two eligible graduate certificates, which can be stacked towards a master of human resource management. Stacking two will allow students to graduate with their master’s by completing another four subjects.

HR roles are becoming more sophisticated

Parker says she remembers when HR management was basically an administrative role that pushed paper from desk to desk.

Dr Helen Parker, UNSW HRM online program director.

“Now, data-driven workflows have really revolutionised the way organisations are managing their human resources, enabling the HR manager to step up and play a more pivotal role,” she says.

“They are helping to navigate change for an organisation. Before, they might’ve been seen as an administrator; now, as an HR manager, they have to be able to speak the language of senior executives.

“That means they need to know about strategy, employment law and business psychology, and how HR relates to business financials. They need to have an answer when the CEO comes up and asks, ‘What’s the return on investment for this very expensive recruitment and selection strategy you’ve put in place?’

“So, it’s important that we equip managers with these new skills to be able to work up at that level, to move from being just administrative or technical up to strategic, and being pivotal in organisational change.

“That’s where I think the profession’s going, and it’s a major reason why people should come and do the online master of human resource management with us.”

An opportunity to lead – and also reflect

Parker believes that because of the crucial role they play in an organisation’s future, there’s a shift towards changing HR manager titles in line with other C-suite professionals such as CEO (chief executive officer) and CFO (chief financial officer).

“AI-assisted, data-driven workflows have really revolutionised the way organisations are managing their human resources, enabling the HR manager to step up and play a more pivotal role.”

Dr Helen Parker, UNSW HRM online program director

“The HR professional really has to understand the imperatives that matter to C-suite colleagues and that’s why our program encompasses topics like leadership, strategic management and employment law,” she says.

“Undertaking the master of HRM online program is also a deeply personal journey for students. Graduates have to look at employee engagement and wellbeing and how to influence them to achieve organisational outcomes, but also at their own psychology.

“So, while the program teaches leadership skills and business psychology, students also get the opportunity to reflect on their personal attributes and aspirations in those areas.”

Learn more at studyonline.unsw.edu.au/online-programs/master-human-resource-management.