FERMA’s professional certification programme rimap® took an important step forward on 23 June, as FERMA disclosed the names of the first six education programmes in risk management to receive rimap accreditation.

Accreditation is one of the three building blocks of rimap, along with certification and CPD (continuous professional development). It is designed to acknowledge that an education provider’s programme meets the risk management education requirements set by FERMA based on the rimap ‘Body of Knowledge’.

Rimap accreditation confirms that the education body is willing to deliver a risk management education programme that is in line with the first European criteria agreed by FERMA associations.

“It is important for the students to know they are following an education programme that is in line with what the profession is expecting. This is best achieved by the professional associations in each country that represent the risk practitioners in Europe,” says Isabel Martinez Torre-Enciso, FERMA Vice President and the person responsible for the accreditation process within the rimap steering committee.

Bridge between academia and profession

Accreditation is also a bridge between the world of risk management education and the professional associations. In 2016, the choice was made to work with a closed list of education bodies that volunteered their interest in the process to FERMA and which were supported by their national risk management associations. For an academic’s view of this process, see the expert view by Marcus Feldt of the Stockholm School of Economics Executive Education here.

“We are pleased to see that the accredited education bodies reflect the diversity of FERMA membership with universities, business schools and professional institutes operated by national associations themselves. The geographical spread also shows that risk management education is developing across Europe, from Finland to Malta.” adds Isabel.

The criteria for accreditation are based on a certain number of hours of teaching, and an 80% match between the rimap Body of Knowledge and the programme. These elements, including the list of teachers and a description of the selection process, were documented by an online submission process through the rimap website.

Continuous Professional Development (CPD)

Finally, we are building the CPD element. We have received a number of requests for licensing for events, and we have so far confirmed to Lloyd’s a CPD license for the FERMA/Lloyd’s Professional Development Programme.

The CPD process is also about to be tested full scale at the FERMA Seminar in Malta on 3-4 October. The details are still to be confirmed, but various Seminar activities should entitle all participants to at least 25 CPD points. These points will be stored electronically on individual rimap accounts for further use when Seminar participants register for the rimap examination: http://www.rimap-certified.org/

First rimap accredited risk management education programmes

• Belgium: ICHEC Formation Continue – Diplôme en Risk Management (BELRIM)
• Finland: University of Tampere – “Master’s Degree Programme in Business Studies – Specialization in Insurance and Risk Management” (FINNRIMA)
• Italy: ANRA – ALP (ANRA Learning Path)
• Malta: University of Malta – “Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Insurance and Risk Management” (MARM)
• Poland: POLRISK – “Certyfikowany zawodowy menedżer ryzyka”
• Sweden: Stockholm School of Economics Executive Education – “Risk Management Diploma” (SWERMA)