A new MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) launched this month offers the first opportunity for learners to obtain a professional CMI management qualification.

The Chartered Management Institute (CMI) in partnership with The Open University Business School (OUBS) CMI and OUBS have developed the Management and Leadership: Growing as a Manager MOOC to address the growing appetite for online education by digital savvy managers. According to CMI’s 2015 Learning to Lead report, only 20 per cent of managers say that digital learning they have undertaken has been accredited.

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CMI’s director of HE Partnerships Ian Myson said: “Only one in five managers that have studied online say that their course has been accredited. This new innovative partnership with the OU means that we’re able to deliver a CMI-accredited course to help thousands of managers develop recognised professional skills, using the latest tried and tested online learning techniques.”

The two-part MOOC has been designed for new, aspiring or existing managers to develop professional skills. The courses are open to anyone regardless of previous qualifications or educational experience. Each course in the programme will take learners three hours of study per week, over four weeks. Managers will be able to update their skillset through a blended approach including social learning, self-directed study and peer learning.

On completing both parts of the MOOC, managers will be eligible to take a CMI Level 5 Award in Management and Leadership, which will help them work towards achieving professional Chartered Manager status.