Professional Development Program (PDP)

This 6-month training program prepares students for professional careers by providing a core set of general skills needed to succeed in any business or organization. Upon successful completion, students are awarded a "Certificate of Completion in Professional Development” (CPD).

This course is intended to prepare students for a fulfilling professional career in whatever field of endeavor they may choose. The core courses taught in the PDP carry over to any organization or field of endeavor, including entrepreneurship.

Students take courses in the following areas: language & communication, workplace skills & professionalism; financial literacy; and business development. Upon completion of the program, students are equipped with the tools to think critically and the discipline to contribute meaningfully to their organization or field of endeavor.

Each of these core courses are taught by working professionals from a variety of fields. These highly qualified instructors work with students to develop highly marketable skills that prepare them to make tangible PRACTICAL contributions to the workplace. 

The PDP is designed for three critical sets of students: (a) young professionals looking to enter the workforce; (b) working professionals looking for additional skills to support their career advancement, and (c) entrepreneurs looking for additional skills to improve their operational capabilities. The PDP provides a diverse, multi-disciplinary, cross-functional learning experience for students. The program also encourages the development of working relationship that transcend the classroom environment.

Classes meet twice a week. An important part of the coursework is team assignments that foster collaboration and independent thinking. Team-building and cross-disciplinary collaboration are important elements in the PDP. An online collaboration platform enables students to work collaboratively on projects through the 6-month period. Students are tested on completion of courses in each module, with a final examination or capstone project.

The curriculum for the program is shown below.

Department of Language & Communication

CGS1100 - Use of English

Students will learn how to properly and effectively use the English language by developing their core grammatical skills. 

CGS1101 - Creative Writing & Personal Expression

Students will learn how to convey their thoughts and ideas in writing and will develop an appreciation for the importance of being able to express themselves effectively through written communication. 

CGS1102 - Public Speaking

For most people, this is a terrifying undertaking. Being able to communicate effectively in public is a lifelong skill that is needed in virtually all aspects of one’s life. This introductory course will focus on the preparation and delivery of effective oral communication in a public setting.

CGS1103 - Listening & Attentiveness

Most conflicts—in both personal and professional spheres– result from a failure to listen. The ability to listen effectively is key when communicating with others. In this course, student will learn ‘active listening’. They will acquire the skills to elicit, receive and interpret messages in the process of communication.

Department of Workplace Skills & Professionalism

CGS1104 - Computer Immersion

The aim of this course is to provide students with the basic computer skills needed in the workplace. In this course, students will learn how to use computer software such as Microsoft Office. In addition, this course will teach students how to utilize digital devices as educational tools. Students will be provided with tablet devices containing multimedia tools that would assist them in their studies.

CGS1105 - Essentials of Human Capital Management

This is an introductory course in human resource management. Every organization needs people and yet most organizations do not understand the mere rudiments of managing people. This course will provide that introduction and awareness around the management of people.

CGS1106 - Customer Service & Professionalism

This course will teach students how to interact professionally with customers in order to maximize client satisfaction. This is perhaps the most important element in determining how customers feel about a company or organization. This course will help students identify and focus on their customers.

CGS1107 - Essentials of Occupational Health & Safety

In this course, students will learn about various workplace hazards and how to maintain a safe and healthy working environment. The legal obligations around a safe workplace will also be explored.

Department of Financial Literacy

CGS1108 - Personal Finance & Money Management

Many businesses suffer financially because the personal finances of the sponsors or proprietors are unstable. This is a risk that is avoidable. Being financially stable requires one to constantly manage their personal finances. In this course, students will learn how to budget, save, and spend money responsibly while taking into account various financial risks.

CGS1109 - Mathematics & Numeracy

In this course, students will develop the ability to use numbers and think mathematically to effect measurements, expedite mental calculations, complete estimates, work with money, analyze trends, and create schedules and budgets. Comfort with calculations will serve students in ANY field of endeavor.

Department of Business Development

CGS1111 - Capital Formation & Business Planning

This course teaches students how to sell the idea of their business to prospective investors. Students learn how to estimate a defensible market potential for business ideas, and the methodology for developing a business plan. Students will learn how to collect and organize the information necessary to allocate resources, outline the strengths and weakness of their business ideas in an objective manner, with a view to attracting potential investors.

CGS1112 - Art & Design In Business

Products are works of art in their own right. Beautiful, well constructed products attract higher perceived value and therefore demand higher prices than products that lack aesthetic appeal. The purpose of this course is to teach students the importance of innovation and artistic appeal in their respective endeavors.  

CGS1113 - Marketing & Personal Selling

Students will learn about theories and concepts used to effectively market goods and services. They will learn how to identify target customers from a domestic and global perspective, and will develop the ability to elicit useful information from prospective customers that will enable them better sell to those and other customers.

CGS1114 - Bookkeeping & Accounting for Small Business Owners

The need for this course is self-evident. It is a critical course for every small business owner, employee or professional.

CGS1115 - Introduction to Psychology

The purpose of this course is to teach students about the basics of psychology and how human interaction is governed to a great extent by psychological impulses and tendencies. This course will introduce a number of competing theories and perspectives on the fundamentals of human behavior.

CGS1116 - Behavioral Typology & Human Behavior

This course will use psychometric tests to explore interactions and personal preferences of students in individual and group settings, especially the workplace.

CGS1117 - Introduction to Law & Citizenship

This course will give students a general overview of the  legal system. It will provide, perhaps for the first time ever for most students, an opportunity to learn about their rights and responsibilities as citizens. Students will learn the basic aspects of law and critical legal thinking.

CGS1118 - Seminar on Health, Fitness & Wellness

This course will teach students about the importance of developing a healthy self. Students will explore topics and evolving practices in a variety of areas including physical fitness, nutrition, mind-body interaction, and weight management.

PDP classes are designed to be convenient for working as well as supported students. Classes are usually scheduled for evenings and weekends where convenient for the cohort.

Students are assigned to cohorts based on a balance between availability in a given cohort and indicated preference of students during the application process. (Individualized classes are scheduled at the convenience of the student and the instructor but must meet the minimum participation requirements for the program.)

The exact schedule of classes and the electronic credentials needed for online access are provided to students in their Admissions Package.

• PDP courses each run for 6 months.
• PDP cohorts typically start the first (working) Monday of every month.
• Registration for new PDP cohorts closes 1 month in advance of the start date. (For instance, students who want to participate in a PDP program starting in January need to be registered by the end of November.) This is to ensure proper planning and management of cohort sizes.
• PDP classes typically meet online twice a week; registered students have access to study and test material on the online platform every day of the week.
• Special classes for organizations, groups or associations may be arranged outside of this standing schedule. (For group schedules, send email to )

IDMANN Institute is committed to providing affordable, quality education for as many students as possible. The institution provides a standing bursary for students in most of our programs based on available financial resources. The goal of the bursary is to assist students in a particular demographic or grouping that may legitimately benefit from the program but may face financial challenges in covering the full cost of tuition.

IDMANN Challenge Bursary:

This program is supported by the IDMANN Challenge Bursary. The IDMANN Challenge Bursary is financial aid provided by IDMANN Institute and partner organizations that fund the Enterprise Development Fund. The IDMANN Challenge Bursary supports students according to the following criteria:

1. The IDMANN Challenge Bursary only covers tuition, not the application fee. Awards are made AFTER students have applied and have been successfully admitted into the program.
2. The IDMANN Challenge Bursary will only support the first ten (10) eligible students to apply in the qualifying cohort. This means that students who apply early are more likely to be successfully considered for the bursary award. The Challenge Bursary is made on a "first-come first-awarded" basis. Students in eligible countries are STRONGLY encouraged to apply early and to indicate their intent to apply for the bursary award. (No special form is required, simply indicate in the application form.)  
3. The IDMANN Challenge Bursary covers 50% of the tuition for students. It does NOT cover the application fee. 
4. The IDMANN Challenge Bursary operates on a contributory basis. This means that students must pay their share of the tuition IN A TIMELY MANNER for the bursary to be applied. In the event that students fail to make their payments in a timely manner, the bursary award will automatically lapse and students will be responsible for the full tuition.
5. Bursary awards are for a specific cohort in a specific course and cannot be transferred to another course. However, in the event that the award recipient needs to transfer to a different cohort within the same course, upon approval of their instructor, the bursary award may be transferred to the new cohort at the same level of support as in the previous cohort.
6. The IDMANN Challenge Bursary is available subject to continued availability of funds to support the bursary. The Institute and supporting partners may terminate the program without prior notice. In any circumstance, students awarded a bursary will receive the committed support through the completion of their studies at IDMANN Institute.
7. The IDMANN Challenge Bursary is available only to students applying to the program and are RESIDENT in the following countries at the time of application: Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Jamaica, Kenya, Tanzania, Guyana, Suriname, Haiti and Indonesia.

 National Service Bursary (Nigeria, Ghana and US):

1. Graduates from post-secondary tertiary institutions in Ghana are required to participate in the National Service Scheme. Similarly, graduates from post-secondary tertiary institutions in Nigeria are required to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). In the US, young graduates may elect to join the Peace Corps for international experience or join the domestic AmeriCorps program.
2. These programs are intended to support community and national development and to provide a transitional experience for young graduates by assigning them to varied places of employment during the service period. IDMANN Institute supports the motivation behind these national services programs and is proud to extend a unique bursary to active members.
3. In support of this, ACTIVE members of these national service programs may apply for a National Service Bursary. The National Service Bursary covers 50% of the application fee and 75% of the tuition for eligible applicants. To qualify for the National Service Bursary, applicants must be registered in the national service program (or received their call-up documents) at the time of application to the program. (Applicants cannot combine the EPP Challenge Bursary and the National Service Bursary.)
4. The National Service Bursary will only support the first ten (10) applicants in the qualifying PDP cohort. This means that applicants who apply early are more likely to be successfully considered for the bursary award. The National Service Bursary is made on a "first-come first-awarded" basis. Students in eligible countries are STRONGLY encouraged to apply early and to indicate their intent to apply for the bursary award. (No special form is required, simply indicate in the application form.)  
5. The National Service Bursary operates on a contributory basis. This means that students must pay their share of the tuition IN A TIMELY MANNER for the bursary to be applied. In the event that students fail to make their payments in a timely manner, the bursary award will automatically lapse and students will be responsible for the full tuition.
6. Bursary awards are for a specific cohort in a specific course and cannot be transferred to another course. However, in the event that the award recipient needs to transfer to a different cohort within the same course, upon approval of their instructor, the bursary award may be transferred to the new cohort at the same level of support as in the previous cohort.
7. The National Service Bursary is available subject to continued availability of funds to support the bursary. The Institute and supporting partners may terminate the program without prior notice. In any circumstance, students awarded a bursary will receive the committed support through the completion of their studies at IDMANN Institute.
8. The National Service Bursary cannot be combined with any other financial assistance from IDMANN Institute.

Application & Registration Fees: