Graduate Training Scheme

Many companies that employ graduates have training programmes to ensure that they develop and adapt their skills to further the aims and objectives of the organisation. If requested, the IMA will assess graduate training schemes in terms of their suitability for graduate mathematicians working towards chartered mathematician and chartered scientist status. Below is a list of requirements that such schemes should meet for IMA approval.

Employers wishing to obtain IMA approval may contact Terry Edwards, Services Officer (01702 356112, terry.edwards@ima.org.uk )

Requirements for Graduate Training Schemes

Graduate members who complete an approved graduate training scheme will have met the postgraduate and experience requirement for corporate membership and will have gone a very long way towards meeting the training and experience requirements for the chartered designation.

The Institute also expects a commitment from the employer to provide training and development that meets its requirements for corporate and chartered membership, and the provisions of the Institute’s Initial Professional Development Scheme. The Institute will expect candidates to demonstrate the required level of competence in the appropriate skills listed in IPDS 4. Use of the IPD scheme’s documentation on a day-to-day basis is discretionary but candidates should become familiar with the scheme’s content and they will need to complete the forms when they apply for CMath.

The requirement for approval is as follows. The scheme should:-

• last for a minimum of four years of which the first two years can be expected to place an emphasis on training and the second two years to emphasise experience;
  
  
• contain an induction to the employer's organisation and business objectives and methods of operation;
  
  
• develop skills and competences in the categories ‘mathematical’ and ‘generic’ as well as any others appropriate to the employer’s business in accordance with the IMA IPD scheme as defined in the document IPDS 4 (attached);
  
  
• set out a training  plan, scheduled in advance and recorded in a log book;
  
  
• provide for an examination at least once a year of the graduate's logbook by a colleague of appropriate seniority and a review of progress;
  
  
• contain provision for continuing professional development (CPD) to enable the graduate to acquire/maintain scientific and technical knowledge at a level required for satisfactory completion of  duties;
  
  
• provide a mentor for each graduate with meetings at least twice a year.

The Institute’s Professional Affairs and Membership Committees, to whom Council has delegated authority for approval, will consider any scheme put forward. Approval is granted for a period of five years.