Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) students now have a streamlined path towards becoming Chartered Marketers — thanks to a partnership with the Canadian Marketing Association (CMA).
Chartered Marketer, which is Canada’s only nationally-recognized professional marketing credential, demonstrates that professionals possess the essential knowledge and skills for success in both marketing and business. Through the new partnership, graduates of KPU’s Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing Management program have a quicker and more direct path towards certification.
“I feel like this partnership really makes KPU’s marketing program stand out,” says Alfred Pilapil, a Marketing Management student at KPU. “Having this option definitely puts me ahead of the game for my career, and will give me a clearer route to getting certified as a Chartered Marketer after I graduate.”
Graduates interested in attaining the Chartered Marketer designation will only need to complete one year of work experience — which includes co-op or internships — along with two to three courses. Alumni who have graduated from KPU’s Marketing Management program up to three years prior are also qualified for this pathway.
“A Chartered Marketer designation really helps marketing professionals stand out in the job market, especially if you’re in the earlier years of your career,” says Paul Leigh, Co-Chair of KPU’s Marketing department. “It gives potential employers proof that a candidate has the skill sets and the background to be a high-level marketer.”
Membership with the CMA also gives the KPU students and alumni access to various networking and career development opportunities, including resume and interview training courses, opportunities to connect with marketing professionals across Canada, discounts to industry events and more.
The Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing Management at KPU is the fourth program in B.C. and the sixteenth in Canada to have been pre-approved by the CMA for this accelerated pathway.
“Marketing professionals today need more than strong creative skills — they need the ability to think strategically, use data and technology effectively and adapt to a rapidly changing business environment,” says Dr. Jeffrey O’Leary, Chief Learning Officer, Canadian Marketing Association.
“KPU’s Marketing Management program provides students with that practical, industry-relevant foundation, making it a natural fit for an accelerated pathway to the Chartered Marketer designation. The Canadian Marketing Association is proud to recognize KPU and help create a clearer path for graduates to build their careers and earn Canada’s leading professional marketing credential,” says O’Leary.
Driven by an industry-informed curriculum, KPU’s Marketing Management program provides students with the essential marketing skills that employers look for, including marketing planning and strategy development, analytics, digital marketing, creative thinking and more. Learning is put into action through projects with real businesses, interactive simulations and practical experience using today’s marketing technologies.
“This recognition is really a testament to the industry-relevant education our marketing program offers and the quality of our graduates,” says Leigh.
