3 minute read
IRM Viewpoint
IRM Viewpoint Upping the ante
IRM has relaunched its flagship qualification to make it easier to study and more relevant to everyday business life
IRM’s Diploma was introduced in 1986 and has since then set the gold standard of quality for qualifications in risk management. It has given thousands of students worldwide a robust and comprehensive grounding in both academic and practical risk management learning. Today it is a fundamental part of obtaining Certified Risk Professional (CMIRM and CFIRM) status, demonstrating sound professional knowledge to employers and clients.
Over the years the qualification has been updated and adapted several times in response to a changing world. Our latest update has significantly enhanced the qualification to help risk professionals better serve their organisations in these difficult times. We have also taken the opportunity to redesign and improve the student experience, deploying today’s best practice in educational delivery and assessment methods.
The basics
Students come to the Diploma generally when they have taken IRM’s International Certificate in Enterprise Risk Management, found it interesting and useful, and want to move on to gain further knowledge and a higher-level qualification. The Certificate is the gateway qualification to the Diploma – modules 1 and 2 of the Certificate form modules 1 and 2 of the Diploma, providing a seamless transition to the higher qualification. The Diploma adds a further four modules, including an extended work-based practical project.
The Diploma and the Certificate have always been primarily delivered though distance learning, with study guides and essential reading materials provided to students with further support from Module Coaches and the Student Team at IRM. At the end of the study period, students would sit examinations in exam centres near to their places of work or home.
The new approach brings our delivery up to date with enhanced online study support and assessment methods. First, all content is now managed online through a specialist education portal, called Moodle, used by many schools and universities in the UK, giving it more academic rigour as well as enhanced convenience and ease of access. Second, Diploma exams have been replaced by practical assignments that are relevant to risk management as it is practised in the real world, assessed by our team of professional examiners.
Reflecting the new, more flexible structure, students can now enrol anytime during the year and can study and complete their assignments from anywhere in the world. Study material is easily available via computer, tablet or mobile phone, making learning on the go simple. Students also receive quicker (provisional) results on their marked assignments, rather than having to wait three months following the exams.
Future proof
Completing the Diploma provides you with an academically robust Master’s level equivalent qualification. Successful Diploma students receive first their GradIRM designation. We hope that many will choose to go further and apply for the CMIRM designation, giving them Certified Risk Professional status, after the qualifying period (three years’ of practical experience) and then potentially move on to Fellowship (CFIRM) if they have the ultimate designation in their sights.
Study time is potentially shorter than the previous exam route as students had to wait for the study and exam dates. Now students have more freedom when and how to study, which is more suited to those who are improving their prospects while working full-time.
Taken together, these changes will enable risk professionals worldwide to better match their study schedules with their working lives, as well as emphasising the practical application of the deep risk management knowledge in the course. And students can enrol now at any time of the year – so there is no longer any need to wait.
