The exam awarding body Industry Qualifications (IQ) has acquired of the name and assets of the Institute of Administrative Management (IAM).
The purchase, concluded on January 27, has resulted in the IQ ownership of the intellectual property of IAM qualifications with supporting learning materials, the IAM databases, the IAM name and the title to the magazine, ‘Manager’. IAM, which was originally established in 1915 and is the oldest management institute in the UK, entered liquidation in November.
IQ says that it will be able to offer some 40 more qualifications in management at levels 4 to 6+. IQ will also provide learning support materials for all of those qualifications through its sister company IQ Resources.
Raymond Clarke, Chief Executive of IQ, said: “The acquisition of IAM will propel IQ into a leading position in the management development and assessment market, and help provide recognised IQ assessment pathways into the Higher Education sector. When combined with our current provision, IQ will be able to offer management programmes from levels 2 to 6+, in subjects from team leadership to senior management and from short programmes to those with a duration of two to three years. The new qualifications will provide a major dimension to our International strategy.”
According to Clarke, the initial focus will be to re-establish the IAM qualifications within IQ and re-engage with those that had been studying through IAM. “It is extremely important that we provide existing IAM students with the confidence to continue their studies. With over 7000 students studying programmes leading to IAM awards, this has to be our highest priority. Once this is achieved, we will be communicating with members about the additional services that were provided by IAM that added value, and which could be retained, changed or enhanced. We are of course also looking forward to celebrating the centenary of the IAM with members next year.”
IQ add that the use of the established IQ infrastructure is expected to radically reduce the cost associated with the former IAM qualifications. IQ speaks of a significant platform for growth and brand development.
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