Our Professional Programme

The Professional Programme represents the combined efforts of ICA's network of volunteers to meet the organisation's fundamental aims and three strategic objectives.

The programme is designed and managed to generate as many relevant products as possible, in accordance with ICA's values in favour of professional solidarity and international co-operation, taking into account cultural diversity.
At the heart of this endeavour is the Programme Commission (PCOM), which comprises senior professionals representing many cultural traditions and areas of expertise.

PCOM sets broad directions and makes decisions about the funding and endorsement of projects.

PCOM constructs themed programmes that will modernize professional practice and attract the support of partner organizations and funding agencies.

PCOM's current programmes are:

• The New Professionals Programme: a bursary scheme to new professionals (less than 5 years working in archives and records management) to attend an annual conference or congress and support to establish a network and associated activities for new professionals to run themselves
• The Africa Programme: a five year programme to deliver ICA's Africa Strategy aimed at strengthening the regional branch network in Africa, reinforcing national archives to advocate their vital role in government and support curriculum development at university-level recordkeeping education

PCOM's four strategic strands are:

• Digital recordkeeping
• Good governance
• Preservation and emergency planning
• Access and outreach

In addition to the work of the Programme Commission, the work and initiatives of the regional branches, sections, and expert groups feed into and are supported by the professional programme.

All of these actions come together in PCOM's Business Plan, which is periodically updated. It is used to identify gaps and duplication and updated accordingly, so that ICA's professional programme as a whole is a powerful and coherent response to the challenges facing the profession in the early 21st century.
The professional programme is constantly under construction: every year new projects and products, conferences and seminars, standards and publications are proposed by and to ICA's members. However, the programme relies on members' needs, expectations and ideas. ICA is providing the framework, it is up to members to decide the content!

PCOM welcomes individual projects that are innovative, creative and meet a real professional need. For more information about how to apply for funding for your project go to the PCOM funding application page.

You can also email programme@ica.org and one of the PCOM team will get back to you.