MEDIA RELEASE: DYNAMIC MARKETING QUALIFICATIONS FOR SELF-DIRECTED LEARNERS

A successful career in marketing requires one to be creative, self-motivated, flexible, innovative, decisive and resourceful. A broad outlook, critical and strategic thinking skills and the necessary education and experience are required to apply a wide range of marketing techniques. Business success is largely determined by the skill, ability and imagination of the professional marketer.

As potential or professional marketers, one needs to encourage characteristics such as self-motivation, pro-activeness, and conscientiousness within oneself. The aspect of life-long learning has a role to play, as once an individual has qualified in the general marketing discipline, he or she can diversify into one of the many specialised streams in the industry.

A relevant qualification from a reputable tertiary institution is respected not only by the business community, but also by reputable recruitment organisations. For example, the Diploma in Marketing from the IMM Graduate School of Marketing (IMM GSM), which enjoys international recognition, is one of the most sought after qualifications in business. The IMM GSM has entered into agreements with selected student support centres, located throughout southern Africa , which are approved to offer tuition support on a full-time or part-time basis.

Alternatively, the dynamic range of programmes is directly available to the individual via distance learning or “self-directed learning.”

This form of learning inculcates self-discipline because students have to learn how to best manage their time around their varying responsibilities and roles. And self-directed (change) learning is an intentional change with respect of who one is and who one wants to ultimately be - when you, as the learner, are in control of your learning process to reach your desired goals

The IMM Graduates School of Marketing promotes the concept of life-long learning. Students develop this trait of self-directed learning and take responsibility for creating their own opportunities and destinies within the business arena.

Self-directed learners, or those studying by means of distance learning, are attempting to gain new skills, knowledge and attitudes, in order to improve their work performance. As a mode of delivery, distance learning ultimately equips our learners to become responsible owners and managers of their own learning process. They are able to monitor, evaluate and regulate their cognitive learning strategies.

Learners are encouraged to plan their study timelines by providing them with structured assessment timeframes and timeously allocated assignments per semester, which contribute towards their examination mark and are not isolated exercises.

In addition to prescribed textbooks, the mode of distance learning is facilitated by means of subject-specific learner guides that have been developed to direct learners through their independent learning process. And while they progress with the syllabus at their own pace, exercises and self-evaluations further permit them to monitor their individual progress.

To further assist its distance learners, the IMM GSM has implemented tutorial programmes, which focus on problem areas identified by learners. These highly interactive sessions facilitate the exchange of knowledge, ideas and problem-solving strategies and by pro-actively preparing for the sessions, the participants benefit enormously.

Self-directed learners take the initiative to diagnose their learning needs, formulate learning goals and identify resources for learning. They are able to evaluate their learning outcomes, control both the learning objectives and the means of learning and ultimately realise that learning is measured by success. Not only will work performance increase but learners will also enjoy healthy dispositions in all the dimensions of their lives, all the while increasing their intellectual capital.