CIMA, the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, signed a strategic agreement with the Shanghai Lixin University of Commerce on Sunday to provide its pathway degree course.

"It is part of CIMA's expansion strategy to boost its business in China," said Andrew Harding, managing director of CIMA, at China Country Final of the 2014 CIMA Global Business Challenge.

The institute has already successful secured CIMA pathway degrees at other universities in China, such as the Central University of Finance and Economics, Shanghai Jiaotong University and the South University of Finance and Economics.

Its business in China now takes a 50 percent stake of the emerging markets including India, South Asia and Africa.

"We expect an increase in business in the next few years by cooperating with local universities," Harding said.

Last week, it signed two agreements, including one with Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics.

"Discussions are under way with some other local universities about cooperation," he said.

CIMA has been promoting management accounting in the Chinese market for a decade and has been working closely both with leading companies and universities in China.

Its alliance with major universities is one of the many initiatives that CIMA has undertaken to provide professional qualifications to the younger generation, he said.

His words were echoed by Tang Haiyan, president of the Shanghai Lixin University of Commerce.

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