Professional Development

One of the greatest challenges for graduates is to acquire the interpersonal skills demanded in the workplace, over and above the academic and technical skills obtained at the IMM Graduate School. The Professional Development initiative has been designed to give our graduates the theoretical and practical framework needed to develop professional behavioural competencies. This initiative offers students non-academic skills, behaviours and tools necessary to achieve success in their careers. Students will learn how to interact with co-workers and clients and how to navigate the world with confidence.

Our learning and teaching approach supports work readiness and personal growth through a variety of academic and professional development initiatives. The Professional Development initiative provides life-time membership of the IMM Institute (provided you have completed all three levels of our Professional Development).

No, it is not.

Yes, there are three levels: Level 1 – Bronze (complete a minimum of 5 activities), Level 2 – Silver (complete a minimum of 5 additional activities), and Level 3 – Gold (complete a further 5 activities and your qualification). The Gold certificate is only awarded upon successful completion of your qualification.

As a registered student of the IMM Graduate School, you have access to the Professional Development initiative every semester throughout the duration of your academic qualification. Content is regularly updated to keep professional skills relevant and aligned to industry requirements.

The initiative is organised into three core categories: (1) Personal Growth — developing soft/power skills aligned to the World Economic Forum's '10 Essential Skills for Every Future-Proof Organisation by 2030'; (2) Skills Development — micro-learning through courses, Podicles, Academic Snapshots, and The Spill; (3) Career Success — field trips, guest lectures, career insights, entrepreneurial hub, and Conversation Café.

All students at the IMM Graduate School are automatically registered as participants on the Professional Development Initiative.

The Professional Development initiative is compulsory for all new students registering for the first time, for existing students registering for a new programme, and for students continuing their studies.

Please refer to the IMM Graduate School's fee schedule on the website.

The fee will be raised on SIMS for all students. The registration fee is payable with each semester registration.

It is compulsory, with the exception of Master's students who are not required to participate in this initiative.

Unfortunately, no exemption will be granted. This initiative is custom designed for IMM Graduate School students and cannot be compared with other programmes on the market.

No, that is not a requirement. However, you need to compile a Portfolio of Evidence (PoE). Your PoE activities will be recorded on eLearn as proof of participation. An activity badge will only be issued once you have completed and uploaded the PoE exercise related to each activity and successfully completed a short survey related to the specific activity.

At the end of the majority of activities you will need to complete a self-assessment exercise (PoE activity), then a short survey related to the activity. Once you have done both, you will be issued with a badge.

IMM Graduate School students participate in the Professional Development Initiative each semester for the duration of their studies. To progress through the levels, students must complete a minimum of five activities per level. The Bronze certificate is awarded after five activities; the Silver after five additional activities; and the Gold upon completion of your qualification.

Yes, and in fact we encourage you to do so. There is no limit to the number of activities you may do. You have to complete a minimum of five activities before receiving a certificate of completion per level (Bronze and Silver). Certificates are only issued in November each year.

None of these activities are credit bearing.

Yes, you may. However, only one attempt will be accounted for as part of the minimum five activities you need to complete per level.

New and existing students will automatically be included in the Professional Development initiative. You will have access on your eLearn home page via a dedicated tile for the Professional Development initiatives.

You need to complete a minimum of five different activities per level (Bronze, Silver, Gold) across any of the categories. Once you have completed five activities, you will receive a certificate of completion. Certificates are issued in November. Your Gold certificate will only be issued once you have completed the minimum 5 activities and upon completion of your IMM Graduate School qualification.

You will receive a certificate of completion issued by the IMM Graduate School in November. For each level (Bronze, Silver, and Gold), you will receive a separate certificate and a badge. Once you have completed Level 3 (Gold level) you will receive a Lifelong Associateship to the IMM Institute.

No. The Professional Development Initiative is structured to be completed over multiple years, with only one certificate issued per year. In Year 1 you can complete Bronze; in Year 2, Silver. The Gold certificate is only issued once you have completed both your qualification and five Level 3 activities. Students who take longer may earn multiple Silver certificates — one per year.

Yes — you will receive a digital badge for every activity you complete, plus a milestone badge with your certificate at each level. Use Badgr (badgr.com) to store and share badges on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X. Official hashtags: #IMMGrowthMindset #IMMPD #IMMProfessionalDevelopment #IMMFutureReady #LevelUpWithIMM.

The Professional Development initiative is a partnership between the IMM Graduate School and the IMM Institute to ensure students enter the workplace equipped with the required skills and competencies. Students receive a life-time Associateship Certificate from the IMM Institute after completing the Gold level. Consult www.imminstitute.co.za for a comprehensive schedule of benefits.

A Professional Associate gains lifetime Platinum status by holding a marketing/business qualification, having 10 years of working experience in a marketing/business-related industry, and holding a senior position. Applicants who do not meet these criteria complete PD activities via the IMM Graduate School and are therefore Professional Development Associates. Professional Associates may still opt to participate in PD activities each semester.