Before you invest your time, money and effort in any qualification, remember that it is the person who makes the qualification, because no paper, however recognised it can be, can guarantee employment.

Most institutional programmes are highly academic where students are taught rather than trained. They memorise theories and are examined in time-constrained tests. There are few opportunities for them to practise what they have learned in the classroom and this limits them in thinking out of the box.

At the training centre of the Institute of Professional Managers & Administrators (United Kingdom) (IPMA) – the Centre for Continuing Studies – programmes from Diploma to MBA/DBA are conducted through seminars and workshops. It uses continuous assessments where all participants enjoy case studies, role play, class debates, analytical and critical thinking, graded assignments, projects and presentations.

Graduates of the nine-month Diploma programme have been accepted for executive positions with good starting salary packages. They can continue with their advanced diploma (assessed at Bachelor Year 2), to become middle managers with salary increments. This way, they can even self-finance for bachelor and master degrees at the IPMA training centre.

Recently, a group of the young Advanced Diploma holders conducted a public workshop on Leadership and received good feedback from participants.

Every module leading to a diploma or MBA or the Master of Science in Occupational Safety and Health award that can be completed in about nine months, immerses the students into real life situations. IPMA trainers are all highly qualified and most importantly, experienced in the fields they facilitate. They bring with them past and current issues to share with the class, and together they solve major corporate issues.

Past participants have never encountered problems in seeking managerial positions. The interviewers are mostly impressed with the confidence the graduates carried themselves.

See for yourself how the IPMA has made learning pay off handsomely through the showcase of past students’ work, and their testimonies and success stories. You can also view the profiles of its resource team with students’ feedback.

IPMA can also organise for its Alumni Head to share his experience. One of its recent MSc OSH participant is now gainfully employed in the United Kingdom.

For details on IPMA’s Business, Accounting, IT, Hospitality, OSH and Research programmes, contact its Centre for Continuing Studies at 56A-C, Jalan SS2/72, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. Tel: 03-7958 1887. Its Regional Manager, Nicole Yow can be reached at 012-207 0768. Email: ro.asiapac@ipmauk.com Website : www.ipmauk.com