IAB Education Foundation Partners with University of Michigan-Dearborn for First-of-Its-Kind Marketing Course

NEW YORK, NY – March 17, 2016 – The IAB Education Foundation today announced a landmark partnership with the University of Michigan-Dearborn, making the school’s College of Business the first four-year institution in the country to offer undergraduates an opportunity to achieve certification by IAB while obtaining their business education.

Beginning winter 2017, UM-Dearborn’s College of Business will offer a credited course, jointly developed with the Foundation, entitled “Marketing 460 Digital Advertising and Communication Strategy.” Students who complete the class will be able to take the IAB Entry-Level Certification Exam, a test covering topics that range from gathering pre-campaign information to monitoring a live campaign. The fee for the exam will be waived.

The entry-level exam is an offshoot of the successful IAB Digital Media Sales Certification program, which has credentialed more than 5,000 interactive media and marketing executives, and earned accreditation from the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

“The University of Michigan-Dearborn College of Business is evolving its curriculum by being innovative and teaming with the advertising industry to be employer-centered,” said Tim Hartge, Doctoral Candidate, Marketing Communications Faculty, Bachelor of Business Administration Assurance of Learning Coordinator, College of Business, University of Michigan-Dearborn. “More skilled workers are needed in advertising as mobile and digital marketing grows exponentially. UM-Dearborn’s College of Business responds with this new course and certification by IAB.”

“Instruction and training are vital in creating the next generation of marketers for a world dominated by digital,” said Michael Theodore, Senior Vice President, Learning and Development, IAB and General Manager, IAB Education Foundation. “We’re excited to partner with the University of Michigan-Dearborn College of Business to advance the IAB Education Foundation mission to close the skills gap in the digital media and advertising industries.”

About the IAB Education Foundation

The IAB Education Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created to increase racial, gender, economic, and cultural diversity, as well as close the skills gap in the digital media and advertising industries.  The Foundation develops curricula and certification programs in fast-growing sectors of industry employment, including digital advertising sales, advertising operations, and data analytics, and then provide the courses at little or no cost to qualified training partners, such as community colleges and workforce development programs.

IAB Media Contact
Laura Goldberg
347-683-1859
[email protected]