The International Institute of Management Development is not a university or a school; rather it is an open independent entity that provides a world-class education to budding managers of the world. It came into existence when in January 1990 two independent management education centers, the International Management Institute and the Institut pour L'Étude des Methodes de Direction de L'Enterprise, merged. IMD only provides education programs in two educational fields, namely degree programs which are Executive Masters of Business Administration (EMBA), and Masters of Business Administration (MBA), and executive education. This school is not a part of any university and operates as an independent, integrated multidisciplinary faculty. The programs in this institute are designed is such a manner, so that the curriculum focuses strongly on the traits of leadership, personal development, and general management, apart from the general goals of functional expertise. Due to the important training in soft skills, 70% of the graduates are placed in managerial positions of the industrial sector. They also provide an MBA program for experienced professionals through EMBA. It is a one year program that focuses on three major aspects, namely business leadership, advanced management concepts, and a mastery stage. This institute also has an extensive alumni network of approximately 100,000 graduates across the globe.