The need for marketers has changed and grown in the last few years. Businesses must be online and stand out in a highly competitive market.

More universities and colleges offer digital marketing programs to meet the demand for people who want to upgrade their skills. Today’s students, however, are more discerning. They want programs or courses linked to the needs and demands of the job market and up-to-date with the latest developments and trends.

What is the solution? The solution? Offer an accredited marketing program with ties with industry leaders and certification to help educators prepare their students for the roles of today. We’ll examine why and how your college or university should implement this.

What is the demand for digital marketers?

Employers across all industries are increasingly looking for digital skills as more and more customers search online and make purchases.

LinkedIn data revealed that skills requirements have changed in the last few years. Since 2015, digital and social media marketing have replaced advertising and event planning skills. Other newer entries include SEO, Google Analytics, and content marketing.

Preply analyzed Google Trends data and found that the top three skills were data science and visualization (+76%), digital marketing (+35%), and data management (+34%).

Businesses need specific technical knowledge and know-how to implement this new digital skill set. Students are looking for specificity and details; universities and colleges must provide this as part of their curricula.

Alternative qualifications have become more valuable for employers and students, as they offer a flexible way to upgrade skills in areas that can help launch or advance a career.

Why is it essential to be accredited for your marketing program?

There is fierce competition in the educational space as many universities and colleges offer short online courses and digital marketing programs.

Many employers also believe that recent graduates need to be work-ready. According to a Cengage report, graduates were surveyed and found to be:

The majority of graduates who don’t want to work at entry-level positions are underqualified

21 percent of respondents say that their college did not provide them with the necessary job skills

After graduation, 29 percent of respondents spent six months or more trying to get a job

One in three people don’t think their education helped them get jobs.

There is also the issue with the speed of change within the digital marketing industry. SEO evolves constantly as keywords and search terms change.

This rapid change makes it hard for universities to maintain their curriculum aligned with industry.

In 2020-2021, Marketing was the 17th-most popular major in the United States, with 52,916 degree awards. College Factual

What are the advantages of accrediting a marketing program?

Accreditation can solve a variety of problems in the education industry. Accrediting your course or marketing program has the following benefits:Use to integrate industry-validated content into your existing or new programs to align curriculum with industry standards.

Employable digital skills are relevant and valuable for your students.

Upon completing a degree, allow students to receive a globally recognized and industry-aligned credential.

Offer dual accreditation as a way to differentiate yourself.

You can access premium content for both educators and students. This includes the latest case studies, micro-lessons, and presentations. It helps students gain practical skills while educators get teaching materials. See what’s on offer by visiting the DMI membership program.

89% said that DMI’s certification enhanced the degree, and 84% agreed. – DMI University Partners Student & Graduate Survey 2022

How do you accredit a marketing program?

It is easiest to accredit a program by working with a third-party provider and integrating content into your marketing programs. Your students can earn the certification at graduation or even make a double certification which adds practical skills and job-ready knowledge to theory.

You can get accredited in three steps.

Validity of a credential when mapping a degree

Flexibility in recognizing existing curriculum

Support and supplement the Access to Learning Curriculum

Relevance of additional content, such as blogs or research

Quality assurance – formal external quality verification

Successful examples of accredited marketing programs

Many universities and colleges want to differentiate their marketing program as student competition grows.

Here are three examples of how accreditation has helped increase enrollments and improve the experience of university graduates.

University Canada West

As a leading Canadian University, University Canada West realized the need to update its MBA program with a digital component to its marketing classes. Preparing students for a changing Canadian job market was essential, where traditional industries are declining, and digital sectors are booming.

East Tennessee State University

East Tennessee State University wished to update its Media and Communication BA & BS program and keep it up-to-date. They also wanted to bridge the gap between academic and employable digital skills.

The partnership resulted in the following:

Student enrollments increase

Engagement of students is increased

Staff satisfaction increases

Students at ETSU have more options to improve their employability

University of the West of Scotland

University of the West of Scotland has decided to incorporate DMI’s Digital Marketing content into its master’s degree to provide digital skills for its students.

The Digital Marketing Institute certification for our Master’s Program has helped us grow and promote our reputation. Theofilos Tzanidis is the Postgraduate Marketing Program leader.

Marketing programs can be improved to increase their value and results.

Your marketing program can be accredited to make it stand out and provide skills to help you gain employment and develop your career. Integrate DMI’s globally recognized and industry-validated digital marketing credentials to improve your program and drive enrollments. Find out more about how DMI accreditation will add value to marketing programs.