IDM Diploma sails through FEDMA accreditation process
Released 06 December 2001: The IDM has been accredited to deliver one of the first ever European certified courses in direct marketing education, for the academic year 2001/2002. To qualify, the IDM Diploma in Interactive and Direct Marketing was assessed by the pan-European Education and Accreditation Committee (PEEAC), funded by the EU and co-ordinated by FEDMA.
The IDM Diploma is one of ten marketing courses to make the grade from an initial submission of 13 from all over Europe. Julia Foster, International Business Development Director at the IDM, says, "The Diploma is already established worldwide, but this rubber stamp from FEDMA will have a catalytic effect on its uptake across Europe. This will accelerate the establishment of Europe-wide professional standards in direct marketing education. And the results will make pan-European campaigns easier to manage, and facilitate the promotion and migration of staff throughout the region."
Through this initiative, FEDMA hopes to increase the mobility of practitioners and educators within Europe, and to create a network of firmly assessed training institutes and universities that provide certified courses. A common reading list and database of lecturers across Europe will also be developed for the network.
Notes to editors
For more information on the IDM, contact Ruth Stone, Account Director, on +44 (0)20 8614 0216 (direct), +44 (0)7788 417109 (mobile) or e-mail ruth@orchidpr.co.uk.
About the IDM
The IDM is the fastest-growing professional institute in Europe, with almost 6,000 individual members. In the 14 years since it was founded, the IDM's agenda has evolved to reflect the extraordinary revolution in business practices brought about by the growth of new media and technologies. The IDM is a not-for-profit organisation, an educational trust and a registered charity, and it offers courses and qualifications spanning every aspect of business and technology. To find out more, visit www.theidm.com.
About FEDMA
FEDMA is the European federation for the direct/interactive marketing business dedicated to representing direct marketing in all its forms. FEDMA's objective is to protect and promote the European direct marketing business by creating, through representation, self-regulation and information, acceptance and confidence in direct marketing within a healthy commercial and legislative environment in which the sector can profitably operate and develop.
FEDMA has more than 350 direct members and represents nearly 10,000 companies indirectly through its national DMA membership.
About PEEAC
The pan-European Education and Accreditation Committee (PEEAC) is an independent body funded by the EU as part of its LEONARDO project, co-ordinated by FEDMA. It is a body formed to represent the industry's educational needs.
For this project, each university and training institute could put forward a specific certificate or diploma course in:
- direct marketing
- direct and interactive marketing
- e-marketing
- e-business
- CRM
- database marketing
Those that met the required criteria were approved at the appropriate level—certificate or diploma.
The key element that differentiates certificate-level and diploma-level courses is the total amount of study hours which students are required to complete in order to achieve the qualifications: a minimum of 130-150 hours to obtain a certificate; and a minimum of 400 hours for a diploma.
Certified courses will be reassessed by PEEAC every year.
