Enrolling now for CIM courses

We are now accepting enrolments for our CIM-accredited courses beginning this September. Each of the courses (Certificate, Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma) is based around a new syllabus recently launched by the CIM.

The re-launch was done after extensive consultation with business. It means that anyone taking the courses will come away with a qualification much more focused on the practical needs of their employers, and less on academic knowledge.

The courses still cover all the relevant marketing theories and principles, but the emphasis is now more on how marketing can be implemented in the real world.

Students will find that the qualifications will give them more confidence in what they do at work and enable them to do their job better. Employers will find that they get better-qualified staff, and benefit from the fact that many of the units within the new qualifications involve work-based projects which can potentially improve marketing performance within their organisation.

To ensure that we are doing all we can to support students taking the courses we are making some changes to the way we deliver them.

First, both the Certificate and Diploma courses will now run over a 12-month schedule instead of the previous nine months. This will give anyone taking the qualifications more time to study and more time to complete the written assignments. We do however recognise that no-one wants a year of constant study so we are building in breaks to provide some relief from the hard work.

Second, we are broadening the number of tutors delivering the courses, bringing in local marketing practitioners to share their expertise and experience. This also means that our tutors will be even better able to deliver one-to-one support to students when needed.

Finally, although we have always provided online support for students on our courses, we will be strengthening this support. There will be more communication through email and student blogs to help maintain the motivation of everyone taking the courses, and to provide materials that complement the core text book for each study unit.

The new syllabi do present a greater need for commitment while studying, but this shouldn't put you off from taking a course. In fact, with the new study schedule and the extra support we are putting in place, you can gain a qualification that will mean you and your employer will know you are much better able to make a valuable contribution to your organisation's success.