HONORING OUR LEGACY, DEFINING THE FUTURE OF PERFORMANCE
Founded in 1978, the Accrediting Alliance for Training & Development has a long history of promoting quality in corporate education. Recognizing that the challenges of the 21st century require a fundamentally new paradigm, AATD was completely re-established in 2025 with a new mission, a new philosophy, and a new gold standard for performance.
Today, the Accrediting Alliance for Transformation & Development combines decades of experience in quality assurance with a visionary framework built for the future of work.
MILESTONES
1969
Institute of Training & Development (ITD) is founded in Germany and starts its Train the Trainer program.
1975
ITD starts the European Trainer Pool (ETP), a group of more than 300 quality-minded training directors from leading companies.
1978
ITD converts the European Trainer Pool into the Accrediting Alliance for Training & Development (AATD).
1981
ITD and AATD start a Competency Research Project sponsored by Toyota, 3M, B.A.T and DuPont.
1989
ITD expands and moves its headquarters to the United States and changes its name to ITD International.
2000
ITD founds the United States Online University (USOU), focusing on business education, training and development.
2002
AATD and USOU team up for a Virtual Reality Research Project and develop the first Virtual Competency Simulator for BASF.
2015
AATD implements the Continuous Improvement System with a team of Performance Consultants and HRD Professionals.
2017
AATD starts Certification for Training & Development Programs, Seminars, Webinars and Coaching Systems.
2018
AATD in cooperation with USOU develops a generic competency model and competency pool with 100 sales competencies and behavior indicators.
2019
AATD in cooperation with USOU develops a generic competency model and competency pool with 100 management competencies and behavior indicators.
2020
AATD creates the Competency Performance Unit (CPU) to measure and credit competency-based training & development and starts its Accredited Provider Program.
2021
AATD started the International Performance Network for Trainers, Coaches and Performance Consultants.
2022
AATD refined its Standards for Accreditation.
2023
AATD changed its name from Accrediting Alliance for Training & Development to Accrediting Alliance for Transformation & Development. This was the start of AATD’s Quality Assurance Program for Performance Improvement.
2025
AATD starts its Accreditation Program for Performance Improvement.