What started as a dream in November last year became a reality this June when the Strathmore University's Students' Marketing Society (SMS) became the first club in Kenya to join the world's largest association of marketing professionals, the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).

It is a great achievement for the club to become a CIM Student Chapter. The accreditation by CIM means the club will receive financial support from CIM.

“We will strive to get any funding we can from CIM so that we can pursue more activities to raise the profile of marketing in Kenya through our students," says Miss Fredah Mwiti, the club's patron.

CIM is the leading international professional marketing body with members worldwide and is the only professional marketing organization that has a royal charter. CIM students Chapters are great fora for aspiring marketers to introduce themselves to the profession.

The benefits that come with international accreditation include:

Careers information and marketing in practice CIM provides CD-ROMs for Student Chapter members containing a wide range of information on how to embark on a career in marketing with related web links. Copies of monthly CIM members' magazine, ‘The Marketer' are also sent to each student chapter.

CV enhancements

Employers consider membership to a CIM student chapter as testimony of dedication to the profession

Networking

Membership brings with it opportunities to network with business people both locally and internationally through CIM branch events and workshops.

Who are CIM Student Chapters for?

The chapters are for any undergraduate/postgraduate student from any discipline with an interest in the function and role of marketing, who sees it as an important part of their future career path. Now, once you join SMS, you automatically become a CIM student chapter member.