My journey with AIHR : Online course platform for HR professionals
September has finally come to an end, marking a whole year since I subscribed to AIHR (www.aihr.com). This also means that my subscription has now expired. In this account, I will share my experience with this platform.
Why AIHR?
A year ago, the new normal era began. I had decided to resign from Pegipegi as I needed to finish my Master’s degree in MBA from ITB. During my Decision Making class in this program, I developed a keen interest in data intelligence, aligning with my interest in people analytics: I enjoyed creating HR reports, designing dashboards, and analyzing HR metrics. As a final year student, I specialized in Decision Making and Strategic Negotiation, blending my professional experience as a recruiter with my newfound interest in data. Consequently, my final project topic is Recruitment Analytics, focused on enhancing recruitment strategies using machine learning.
However, I realized my lack of technical knowledge, particularly in analytics. To address this gap, I took several online classes. I subscribed to Datacamp to learn R and SQL, pursued the Google Data Analytics Certification on Coursera, and joined AIHR (initially) for their People Analytics Certification.
So, what is AIHR exactly?
AIHR stands for “Academy to Innovate HR,” an online platform providing training programs for HR professionals. Founded in 2016 by Nando Steenhuis and Erik van Vulpen, professionals from the Netherlands, AIHR offers a range of certifications for HR professionals.
Regarding pricing, I explored AIHR’s certification costs. Opting for a single certification cost IDR 7.7 million, but for only IDR 10.4 million, I could access all of the 11 certifications — an appealing marketing offer. After thorough research, including testimonials on platforms like Reddit, I chose the latter option. My decision was influenced by my aspiration to transition into more strategic HR roles. Hence, I aimed to broaden my understanding beyond talent acquisition to other areas as well such as organization development, compensation and benefits, employee experiences, and performance management. AIHR seemed to cover all these HR aspects comprehensively.
What I like about AIHR
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What sets AIHR apart is its ability to provide a strong foundation in HR. The courses are user-friendly and are highly recommended for HR professionals seeking to diversify their expertise, individuals pivoting their careers into HR, or students aspiring for HR roles.
The certification program is structured into modules, each offering online videos, quizzes, and interactive case studies to apply knowledge practically. Additionally, AIHR provides reading materials, incorporating youtube links, articles, and book recommendations, which enrich the learning experience. Furthermore, AIHR frequently updates its content, introducing new courses like “Chat GPT for HR,” exploring practical uses of ChatGPT in HR tasks, a topic that personally intrigued me.
The flexibility of online learning allows me to access the content anytime, anywhere, especially since I became a new mom this year. I could watch videos while breastfeeding and putting my baby to sleep, making the most of my time.
What I dislike about AIHR
However, AIHR does have its drawbacks. One notable issue is the absence of local context in their case studies. As a platform founded in Europe, it lacks specificity on topics in other regions. In addition, If you are merely seeking certification to comply with government or company policies, this might not be the right platform for you. In Indonesia, AIHR is not recognized by BNSP (Badan Nasional Sertifikat Profesi/ Indonesian National Professional Certificate Agency) itself.
The certification program includes a Capstone project, comprising a case study and multiple-choice questions. Unfortunately, only the multiple-choice section is graded, neglecting the effort and knowledge required for the case study.
Another drawback is the technology. AIHR uses Vimeo for video embedding, which is a challenge for users in countries where Vimeo is blocked. This leads to necessitating the use of VPNs which have potential security risks and slow connection. Moreover, the user experience varies between devices, On a tablet, I can increase the video playback speed to 2x, whereas on the phone, the video can only be sped up to 1.25x.
TLDR;
AIHR provided me with a transformative year of learning, marking my journey from a recruiter to a data-driven HR professional. Despite some limitations, such as the lack of local context in case studies and non-recognition of certifications in certain regions, AIHR’s comprehensive and user-friendly courses enabled me to explore various HR domains. The platform’s structured modules, interactive case studies, and regular content updates made learning accessible and engaging. Although challenges like video streaming limitations and a lack of student interaction exist, AIHR stands as an excellent choice for HR professionals aiming to broaden their expertise or individuals transitioning into HR roles.
