Dr. Roberts Studies Academic Trends in Human Resource Development
July 19,  2007
 

Dr. Roberts is researching and creating what will ultimately develop into the first comprehensive study of university-based academic programs in HRD. According to Roberts, "HRD is a fast growing academic discipline and it has been difficult to keep up with the emerging programs and trends."

One important outcome of Roberts' research will be an annual academic directory of higher education programs in HRD that will be associated over time with The University of Texas at Tyler. “It’s an annual directory reporting the state of the discipline,” states Dr. Roberts.  “The project is a descriptive study focused on identifying and describing all academic programs in the United States that prepare Human Resource Development professionals and to organize the data into a useful directory for the profession.”

This study will begin as a compilation of academic HRD graduate programs that exist throughout the USA and will expand over time to include undergraduate programs as well as international programs. According to Dr. Roberts, the project will not only identify programs preparing HRD professionals, but will obtain descriptive information on each so as to create a useful directory for dissemination by the Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD). Beyond the descriptive aspect, the annual effort will also study important issues and trends facing the profession.

“It is almost impossible for the AHRD to holistically move ahead on its leadership mission without up-to-date and complete data as to the academic programs it wishes to engage, represent, and advance,” states Dr. Wendy Ruona of the University of Georgia and chair of the AHRD Program Excellence Committee. The Program Excellence Committee members serve in an advisory role to this research effort.

The inaugural issue of the directory and related journal articles of trends are to be released January 2008.
 

The University of Texas at Tyler
School of Human Resource Development and Technology
3900 University Blvd.
Tyler, TX 75799

Ph: 903.566.7310
903.565.5650 (fax)
 

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