NHTV University of Applied Sciences in Breda, Netherlands, has become the first European higher education institution to be accredited in Commercial Communications Education by the European Association of Communications Agencies (EACA). The Accreditation for the International Media & Entertainment Management course (IMEM course) will be valid for 3 years from June 2017.
The EACA Accreditation in Commercial Communications Education endorses specialist Bachelor and Master programmes that prepare students for a career in commercial communications. The accreditation is restricted to members of the European Institute for Commercial Communications Education (edcom) and is endorsed by EACA, which brings together the advertising, media and sales promotion agencies across Europe, promoting responsible advertising and high professional standards.
Depending on the scope of their curriculum, applicants can be accredited either for the complete framework curriculum in Commercial Communications or for a specific sub-course or discipline. Applicants are assessed by a Board comprising leading international professionals and educators and through a personal inspection visit.
The EACA Accreditation process is based on the fundamental principle that courses should offer students a balanced mix of theoretical and practical subjects in commercial communications. After a rigorous process of self-assessment, a school visit and a review by the Board, NHTV University of Applied Sciences was given a positive report and received the EACA Accreditation with an outstanding result. According to Anne Castermans, Board representative and schools inspector, the small-scale university offers a valuable combination of management, marketing and digital courses and is open to internationalisation with a high rate of foreign students (30%).
The IMEM course prepares students for a career in the media and entertainment industry. The course aims to train students to become managers in creative concept development, production techniques and marketing strategies in a variety of industries within media and entertainment.
Arnoud Versluis, Lecturer Marketing and Co-ordinator of the IMEM course, commented:
“Being accredited with an outstanding result is a big achievement for our international programme. It proves our qualitative approach within courses, lecturer teams and cooperation with our students coming from all over Europe. It challenges us to keep on focusing and putting the bar on a high level. This accreditation increases the value of our program towards the industry and hopefully creates many more new job opportunities for our students across Europe.”
The EACA Accreditation will also be awarded to students who have passed their final examinations and have earned a diploma or certificate from a nationally accredited edcom member school. The accreditation will thus complement, not replace, their school qualification. The EACA Accreditation in Commercial Communications Education therefore offers benefits for edcom students, academics and schools, who will jointly form the nucleus of experienced forward-looking specialists, helping to advance the standards of commercial communications and marketing proficiency for the ultimate benefit of consumers.
ABOUT EACA
The European Association of Communications Agencies (EACA) represents more than 2,500 communications agencies and agency associations from 30 European countries that employ more than 120,000 people. EACA members include advertising, media, digital, branding and PR agencies. EACA promotes honest, effective advertising, high professional standards and awareness of the contribution of advertising in a free market economy. We encourage close co-operation between agencies, advertisers and media in European advertising bodies. EACA works closely with EU institutions to ensure freedom to advertise responsibly and creatively. We are here to share and address international experience and issues on a pan- European basis and provide an important link between agencies, advertisers and the advertising media in Europe and around the world.
ABOUT EDCOM
edcom – the European Institute for Commercial Communications Education – was launched by EACA to promote excellence in commercial communications education and research and to encourage exchanges between the European commercial communications sector and academic partners. Click here for more information.
For more information, please contact:
Pauline De Pelsmacker
Training & Education Manager
Pauline.depelsmacker@eaca.eu
+32 (0) 2 740 07 18
Tamara Daltroff
Director of European Affairs
Tamara.daltroff@eaca.eu
+32 (0) 2 740 07 15
