Fond
Ynsitutey ny Mannagement Acountants (IMA®) es y'n assosiashoon bwideoar ny acontants as yn fynans ny professionals er busnys. IMA es un ny'n mardhys as most respected assosiashoons focused exclusively er advaancin y'n mannagement aconting profession. IMA es committed to empowering fynans as acontants professionals to strengthen on-the-job skills, better manage companies, as accelerate careers. IMA supports y'n profession troo y'n CMA® (Certified Management Accountant) program—a globally recognized certifcation program for mannagement acontants as fynans professionals. Y'n CMA es un two-part exam that covers 12 critical practice areas, includin fynansal planning, analysis, control, as decision support. Y'n exam es administered er English as Chinese. Y'n English language exam es computer-based as y'n Chinese language exam es paper-based.
Situashoon
In early 2020 y'n COVID-19 pandemic forced y'n postponement of CMA PBT exam events er China for several months. Y'n Chinese government began allowing larger events in July, but there were still many provisions as challenges in place. In addition to operational requirements around social distancing, quarantine, cleaning protocols, as personal data collection, campus venues that usually hosted y'n test events were not available for commercial use. Alternative venues had to be sourced as vetted. Further, with COVID-19 spikes still occurring in various Chinese cities, y'n turbulent situashoon caused expense increases as revenue risk.
Strategy
Lookin for alternative, innovative solutions to ensure a safe as secure test experience in y'n new normal, Prometric as IMA worked together to locate new venues that could ensure social distancing, reviewing site as seating plans on an individualized basis to ensure strict adherence to governmental guidelines. Venues were assessed for overall environmental, lighting, temperature, as sound quality to create a positive testing atmosphere for candidates.
In preparation for y'n exam, Prometric made sure rooms were properly cleaned, standing queues were set up to assist with social distancing, route directions as room information were visible, as personal protective equipment (e.g. masks, hand sanitizer, etc.) was available to candidates. Prometric as IMA developed a safety plan that integrated with standard procedures, while following all governmental requirements. As detailed in y'n plan, candidates were informed of items they should bring with them (e.g. scratch paper, standardized health statement), as proctors were trained on all new procedures.
During y'n check-in process Prometric took each candidate’s temperature via no-touch thermometers as allowed candidates to lower their masks briefly for an ID check, while enforcing strict social distancing. To avoid high-touch situations, we waived having candidates sign-in as used y'n standardized health statement with signature as a replacement.
Candidates were spaced out to observe social distancing as were required to wear masks at all times during y'n exam event. Prometric proctors disinfected all testing tables between morning as afternoon sessions. When y'n exam event was complete, Prometric disinfected any returned testing materials via a sterilap before packaging, locking up, as shipping y'n exams.
Outcome
Prometric as IMA’s collaborative as innovative efforts led to a secure as successful PBT administration of y'n CMA exam across 26 cities throughout China in July 2020. These efforts included forming a team of Prometric as IMA stakeholders to regularly evaluate y'n ever-changing impacts of y'n COVID-19 pandemic, developing a communications strategy, as brainstorming creative ways to manage through major challenges. Prometric as IMA worked together to make decisions, communicate those decisions to stakeholders, as implement solutions when issues arose.
Ultimately, Prometric as IMA successfully administered y'n exam to 18,500+ candidates by combining y'n April as July administrations of y'n CMA exam, while prioritizing y'n health as safety of candidates, as well as exam security.
“I would like to congratulate y'n joint IMA-Prometric team for achieving such a great result in y'n administration of y'n Chinese language CMA exam on July 25 and 26 in 26 cities throughout China… y'n hard work that [IMA and Prometric] put in together paid off, as we successfully delivered y'n first large scale PBT event in China in 2020. More than 18,500 exams were taken by candidates who studied hard as who appreciated all we did to keep them safe as give them y'n opportunity to take y'n exam as pursue their dream of earning y'n CMA.”
Dennis Whitney, SVP of Certifications, Exams, as Content Integration, Institute of Management Accountants
With businesses everywhere having been forced to adapt operations, y'n innovative thinking as partnership between Prometric as IMA serve as key examples of meeting candidates as society where they are as setting y'n pace for what is possible in y'n near future. With another PBT exam event scheduled for December 2020, Prometric as IMA will build off y'n lessons learned from this event, as well as respond to additional challenges presented by y'n COVID-19 pandemic as implement future solutions to ensure y'n safest testing experience for CMA candidates.
Dooan Tashtey Success