June 2007

ETCN trains marketing trainers for AMA

On June 6-8, 2007, Mr. Jacco Stolker, director of ETCN, trained the new marketing trainers for the Armenian Marketing Association (AMA).

Together with AMA, ETCN and NIMA will implement the unique NIMA marketing training and examination programs in Armenia. AMA is the unique partner for this marketing training programs in Armenia.

The Dutch marketing training programs are focussed at marketing professionals who work as marketers. Mr. Stolker: ?We want to offer marketing training programs with state of the art Western knowledge and certification, tailor-made for Armenian business environment. That is the reason why we work only with local partners and Armenian trainers?.

Seven marketing specialists have been trained in order to be certified as a trainer for the Dutch marketing programs in Armenia. The trainers have been carefully selected from a big group of potential candidates. Selection criteria were: experience as a professional marketer, experience in training and education, right level of knowledge and, of course, attitude. The training took place in several sections divided over three days. During the training the didactical approach in the NIMA training programs was the main focus point. The NIMA programs are among the best marketing training programs in the world and the educational approach is an essential aspect of it.

Before the program's launch in September 2007 several trainings will follow. Mr. Stolker: ?Only with good trained and highly motivated people we can make this marketing programs a success in Armenia?.

Mr. Stolker has visited Armenia several times and is sure that there is a big demand for high quality, top level marketing trainings in Armenia. Together with the Armenian Marketing Association, the joint programs will be successful in Armenia!!!

November 2006

ETCN starts joint venture in Ukraine

Recently Education and Training Centre of the Netherlands has started a new daughter company together with the NEB group in Kiev. The name of the new company is European Centre for Competence Development, ECCD. The director of the new company is Anton Baboglo. ECCD will focus at offering competence based high quality training programs on the Ukrainian market.

The first programs that will be launched are the NIMA training programs. In the first half year of 2007 different training programs with Dutch trainers are planned. One of them will be ?Brand Development? training by two famous Dutch marketers. Take a look at ECCD website at www.eccd.com.ua

October 2006

Train the trainer program for NIMA trainers in Kiev

In October the first training of new NIMA trainers took place in Kiev. Six professional and experienced marketers participated in the training. The trainers are working as marketing managers in top multinational and Ukrainian companies in Kiev. During the training all aspects of the NIMA training program were discussed. The high quality of the trainers and their positive attitude will be the success factors for our NIMA programs in Kiev.

Dutch Double Degree Program totally renewed

ETCN has introduced big improvements in the Dutch Double Degree Program based on the latest developments in higher education in the Netherlands.

The new program is mainly focused at competence development and assessments. During the program students participate in lectures, are assessed by Dutch and local professors and create a portfolio.

After completing the program the graduates can demonstrate not only a Dutch degree, but also a complete competence profile of competences that they possess. The competences are proved by several assessment reports and a digital portfolio compiled in the course of the program.

This approach gives our program graduates a strong competitive advantage in the labour market for national as well as international companies.

September 2006

ETCN director speaks at marketing conference in Minsk

On September 27, Jacco Stolker, the director of ETCN, was invited to speak at the marketing conference in Minsk, Belarus. The presentation title was ?Future of marketing education?. The conference took place in the brand new national library.

The day after the conference a train the trainer program for 14 new NIMA trainers in Belarus was conducted. SATIO, the partner of ETCN in Belarus, selected a team of highly motivated trainers that will make the introduction of the NIMA training programs in Belarus a success. The first NIMA programs are expected to start in Minsk in January 2007.

June 2006

International recognition of NIMA diplomas
NIMA – The gateway to the European market

Since June 3 2006, it is easier for marketers with a NIMA-Diploma to enter the European business market, as the diplomas of the Netherlands Institute of Marketing (NIMA) have been internationally recognized by the European Marketing Confederation (EMC).

As the first European marketing institute, NIMA has managed to achieve diploma recognition outside the national borders.

Thanks to this international recognition, holders of a NIMA-Diploma can receive an EMC Marketing Qualification Certificate. This certificate opens the borders to all seventeen member countries of the EMC. Other members besides the Netherlands are Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Finland, France, Greece, Great Britain, Ireland, Ukraine, Portugal, Russia, Slovakia, South-Africa, Sweden, and Turkey. Herewith the working field for marketers has been extended to the European market. Austria, Hungary, Iceland, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Switzerland will join the EMC soon. Alfred Levi (Chairman of the NIMA Board): “Terrific, this creates opportunities for all Dutch marketers as their competences, proven in the Netherlands, are now recognized internationally”.

Until recently it was quite difficult to estimate the value of a NIMA-Diploma outside the country borders and its relation to foreign degrees. Thanks to the international recognition, however, this has become much easier. There is more clarity about specific competences and therefore better career opportunities for NIMA Marketers with an international focus. Petra Claessen (NIMA Director) explains: “This international accreditation shows international appreciation and respect to Dutch NIMA Marketers, we are very proud of that”.

EMC
The European Marketing Confederation was created in 1993 to succeed the European Marketing Council founded in 1967. EMC is an umbrella organization with 21 members. NIMA is one of its nine full members and fulfills the role of vice-chairman. The EMC cooperates with other international organizations such as the American Marketing Association, the Asian Marketing Association, the Federation of Direct Marketing (Fedma), the international research institute Esomar, the European Marketing Academy (EMAC) and a number of other organizations. Additional information about the EMC can be found on www.emc.be.

NIMA
NIMA stimulates marketers and offers ways to develop and professionalize the field of marketing. On one hand, as an association NIMA serves as a marketing platform for its 3.000 members. On the other hand, NIMA holds more than 10.000 exams annually in the fields of marketing, sales, communication and market research. NIMA examinations, both conducted in Holland and abroad, are supervised by the Examination Chamber Foundation. NIMA has been founded 40 years ago and is located in Amstelveen, the Netherlands. More information about NIMA can be found on www.nima.nl.

March 2006

Honorary Consul of the Netherlands at diploma handout

On March 13, 2006 the honorary consul of the Netherlands, Mr. de Groof, has visited the graduation ceremony of the Dutch Double Degree Program at the International Management Institute in Chisinau, Moldova.

For the first time in the history of the Dutch Double Degree program a representative of the Dutch government has handed out diplomas to graduates. 9 graduates have received their diplomas from Mr. de Groof personally.

This evening another guest from the Netherlands, Mrs. Petra Claessen , director of the Netherlands Institute of Marketing (NIMA) was present. Mrs Claessen was in Moldova to investigate the possibilities of starting the NIMA training and examination programs in Moldova. These programs are already running successfully in Russia and Czech republic and will be soon implemented in Ukraine.

NOVI University and ETCN congratulates the graduates with their diplomas!

Graduation pictures

February 2006

The first NIMA-B exams in Moscow

On February 8, 9 and 21, 2006, the first NIMA-B exams took place in Moscow. These exams are the result of the joint cooperation between the Netherlands Institute of Marketing (NIMA), the Russian Marketing Association (RAM) and ETCN.

The practical exams were conducted on February 8 and 9. A NIMA representative was present during almost all exams. The practical exam consists from the presentation and defence of an operational marketing plan. Not an easy task for many people, but the quality of the plans was impressive.

The theoretical exam took place on February 21. During 2 ½ hours people had to write the NIMA-B1 exam. During this exam the representative of NIMA was also present. According to the candidates the theoretical exam was quite difficult, especially with the time pressure.

These two exams were the test case for the Dutch-Russian cooperation. In the first evaluation all partners were satisfied about the first results. Organization of exams by RAM was very good and the students were prepared very well.

A good reason to expand the activities further in Russia and other countries!!!

Take a look at the photos of examinations.

January 2006

Dutch ambassador hands out diplomas

On 26 January, 2006 the Ambassador of the Netherlands, Mr. Ron Keller has handed out the diplomas to the graduates of the Dutch Double Degree Program. The event took place in the auditorium of KROK University in Kiev. 14 graduates have received their Dutch Bachelor Degree from Mr. Keller personally.

Before getting the Dutch bachelor degree, students had to defend the final thesis – definitely not the easiest part of the program according to some of the graduates. The board of examiners consists from Mr. Frank Melis, examiner of NOVI University, the Netherlands and Mr. Jacco Stolker, teacher in the program.

Hogeschool NOVI and ETCN wish the graduates success in their personal life and career!!!

Take a look at the pictures of graduation and thesis defense!

November 2005

We are proud to announce that Pentascope, a Dutch consultancy company, the shareholder and partner of NOVI University (Hogeschool NOVI) has been recently selected by a leading business magazine as the best consultancy company in the Netherlands.

The research was done by Management Team, a Dutch periodical for managers. The result was based on the outcomes of a client satisfaction research held among the clients of consultancy companies in the Netherlands. 3000 Dutch managers gave their opinion about their consultants and the outcome is clear: Pentascope is the best consultancy company of 2005.

The outcome of this research, together with the leading position of NOVI according to the student questionnaire in September 2005, strengthens the belief of ETCN to work with the right partners.

Jacco Stolker
Director ETCN BV

October 2005