We have just announced the launch of the new modular AMCT qualification. This is a project that the ACT has been working for the last two years – and it is the most significant development in our qualifications since AMCT and MCT were introduced in their current format.
Members should have already received a letter from me explaining what we have done with AMCT. All our existing AMCT students are being sent detailed information on the changes and how their enrolment with us is affected. I will not repeat in this note what I hope you will agree is well covered in the communications we have prepared – and indeed in an article in the March edition of The Treasurer.
The work to create the new, modular AMCT really has been a major project for the ACT. In essence we have rewritten all the existing learning materials, introduced a consistent look and feel to them, added one entirely new module and converted the AMCT qualification from a set of compulsory papers to one allowing a choice of papers.
I am proud of the fact that we have completed the project within budget and on the timeline to which we committed at the start of the project. That we have done so is a great credit to all the people who have been involved in working with us over the last two years. I will not attempt to list them by name but I think that by stressing how widely we have drawn on the resources that we needed, you will get a feel for the scale of what we have been doing.
Central to the work has been the education team within the ACT. They have managed and led the process throughout, establishing at the outset the core principles that were to be followed by all involved in the development of the learning materials. We commissioned a number of external authors to write the manuals and wrapped around them a series of reviews designed to challenge content as well as style. A number of members (as well as outside experts) participated in the review process and their involvement has been crucial to ensuring that we have the materials in a form that meets the quality standards we set for each paper.
The ACT’s Education Committee has also played a key part, both by providing a forum to debate and confirm the strategy for AMCT and then by supporting the project as it progressed through the key landmarks of initial drafting, review and preparation for publication.
Preparing to launch the new modular qualification needed the involvement of a wider group of people at the ACT. The operational aspects associated with changing the structure of a qualification – for which we have currently enrolled students with a strong interest in understanding how they are affected by the announcements – are being dealt with by the education team. But we have also required a significant IT effort, both to ensure that our systems can handle the new format of the qualification and to develop the appropriate website material to support the launch. And our marketing team have strengthened their resources specifically so that the announcement and supporting communication of the change was effective and constructive.
Last but by no means least the ACT’s Council has been involved, as a group of non executive directors should, in expecting to receive periodic reports on the project and in asking challenging questions about its progress and risks.
So my thanks go to all who have been part of the project. The exciting bit now lies ahead, as we support the initial launch with further developments to ensure that AMCT is a ‘must have’ qualification for all involved in treasury, financial risk and corporate finance.
