NDMU Opens Global Pathways for Accountancy and Management Accounting Students Through Partnership with the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA)

Notre Dame of Marbel University (NDMU) formally entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Institute of Management Accountants, Inc. (IMA) through an online signing ceremony held via Zoom on May 26, 2026, from 10:30 AM to 12:00 NN.

The Institute of Management Accountants is one of the world’s largest and most respected professional associations dedicated to advancing the management accounting profession, representing nearly 140,000 professionals globally. Central to this partnership is IMA’s U.S. Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification, which is an advanced, globally recognized credential for accounting and financial professionals that covers financial reporting, planning, performance and control, and financial decision-making. The U.S. CMA is widely regarded as a premier qualification for those pursuing careers in management accounting and finance at the international level.

This partnership opens a direct pathway for NDMU’s Bachelor of Science in Management Accounting (BSMA) and Bachelor of Science in Accountancy (BSA) graduates to pursue the U.S. CMA certification. Under the MOU, IMA will provide annual scholarships to deserving NDMU students, covering IMA membership fees, entrance fees, and examination fees, significantly reducing the financial barrier to achieving this globally recognized credential. Faculty lecturers will likewise be eligible for CMA scholarships covering entrance and examination fees. NDMU’s designated campus advocate will receive complimentary IMA membership and access to the IMA Educational Case Journal, enriching both instruction and research in management accounting.

The ceremony was graced by welcome remarks from Michelle F. Capistrano, CPA, DBMIS, Dean of the College of Business, Governance, and Accountancy, followed by a presentation of the partnership by Jennifer S. Era, CPA, DBA, Program Coordinator of the Accountancy Department, who spearheaded the collaboration. Messages were then delivered by IMA APAC Deputy Director Shawn Tan and Business Partner Relations Manager Hanilore “Hanz” Fabul, alongside IMA Philippines Chapter President Mark Jayson Agacer, and Treasurer and VP for Student Relations Jayson Lu. The MOU was formally signed by NDMU University President Bro. Paterno S. Corpus, FMS, Ed.D., and IMA APAC Deputy Director Shawn Tan. Bro. Corpus also gave his concluding remarks, emphasizing the role of industry collaborations such as these in elevating the quality and global relevance of NDMU’s academic programs, ensuring that its graduates are recognized not just locally, but across the international stage.

The online ceremony was attended by students of the Management Accounting program, who witnessed the historic signing alongside university officials and IMA representatives from across the Asia Pacific region.

This partnership reflects NDMU’s unwavering commitment to forming meaningful global connections that expand opportunities for its graduates that is rooted in the university’s mission of providing quality, values-based education that empowers its community to serve and transform society.