OVER the past three years, uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, accompanied by the increasing adoption of disruptive technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data, has unsettled the global economy.
This situation necessitates business leaders and managers for the future to develop agility and have a strong portfolio of future-oriented and change-ready skills. These qualities could be cultured by acquiring a continuous personal development plan, particularly the one guided by the internationally recognised Chartered Management Institute (CMI), a professional institution for management based in the United Kingdom.
Working with education providers, CMI inspires students to unleash their potential and become managers and leaders identified by their Chartered status.
In Malaysia as well as in this region, Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) is one of CMI’s largest partners with a significant number of accredited programmes that lead students towards a high degree of professionalism.
Chartered Manager (CMgr) is the highest professional status that can be achieved in management and leadership. The process of becoming an agile, future-oriented CMgr, demonstrating managerial competence and functional ability with a strong portfolio of change-ready skills, can be started as early as one enrolling themselves in undergraduate or postgraduate studies.
A CMgr demonstrating managerial competence and functional ability with a strong portfolio of change-ready skills.
Partnering with APU, CMI is currently accrediting all postgraduate and undergraduate programmes offered by the School of Business, as well as several programmes of managerial studies across other schools. This means that when a student graduates from a programme with APU-CMI dual certification, there is an opportunity to gain a CMI qualification to complement his or her university qualification.
The pathway of self-investment begins with aiming for a CMgr - this is a status recognised across business sectors and is a testimony that one can demonstrate the practical skills needed to perform in the workplace, acknowledgement of practical application to the theoretical understanding attained through the business or management degree.
Upon signing up for an APU-CMI dual certification programme at APU, students will become CMI affiliate members for the duration of their course. As members, they will benefit from a wide range of resources to enhance knowledge and understanding, which includes access to CMI’s online learning portal, Career Development Centre and mentoring service.
“For the duration of their undergraduate or postgraduate studies here, CMI membership will not only support APU student’s studies but also their professional development through a wide range of online resources and activities,” Assoc Prof Dr Jason Turner, APU’s School of Business senior head said.
For different undergraduate and postgraduate programmes offered at APU, it will either be paired with one of these CMI qualifications, subject to how it maps with the required module – CMI L5 Award in Management and Leadership, CMI L5 Certificate in Management and Leadership, CMI L7 Award in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice, CMI L7 Certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice, CMI L7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership Practice.
Ultimately, students will graduate with Foundation Chartered Manager status or an ‘fCMgr’ credential. Guided by three years of management experience, the chartered pathway will then continue with a tailored continuing professional development (CPD) journey and a chartered manager assessment at CMI, leading to achieving the chartered manager status.
It is also worth mentioning that individuals with a CMI qualification of Level 5 diploma and above, on top of their three years of relevant management experience, could fast-track to CMgr status. Those with a minimum of 10 years of management experience, could be elevated to CMI fellowship status.
According to a characteristic checking on CMI’s employability skills, 97% of employers agree that these skills – self-managing, critical analysis and problem solving, communication, interpersonal skills, leadership skills, collaborative working, managing projects and changes, managing resources and business acumen – had well equipped the graduates with a skillset to get on in the workplace. Furthermore, 89% of students agreed that the CMI dual accreditation had helped them to develop employability skills (1).
"This course has been a challenge that I have enjoyed. I was drawn to CMI’s level 7 diploma, because of its international recognition and value. I am keen to work towards CMgr status as I can see that it will have real benefits in helping me position myself successfully in the overseas market,” said Komathi, who is working towards a CMI Level 7 Diploma in Strategic Management and Leadership.
97% of employers agree that graduates with CMI’s employability skills are well equipped to get on to the workplace.
“Engaging with the CMI provides students with the opportunity to, as aptly put by the CMI themselves, learn, develop and connect,” Turner says.
“Building a relationship with the CMI while studying a business and management degree starts a student on a career journey of continuous learning, personal self-reflection, development and networking with fellow students, business contacts and professionals.
“Starting this relationship early shapes a student’s career and engenders an employability skillset which sets those students apart in the employment market,” Turner concludes.
At APU, students will also have the option to opt-in for the APU-DMU dual degree scheme, where they will receive two sets of degree certificates and transcripts upon graduation: one from APU (Malaysia), and another from De Montfort University (United Kingdom).
The Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation (APU) purpose-built campus with ultra-modern design is strategically located in Technology Park Malaysia (TPM), Kuala Lumpur.
To know more about CMI dual accredited degree and APU-DMU dual degree scheme, visit www.apu.edu.my.
Reference:
(1) https://www.managers.org.uk/knowledge-and-insights/research/building-employability-skills/
