Competition for IT Certification

Schools might find their business model increasingly under threat...

It may still be a decade ahead but the trend towards competency based certification will affect secondary schools too...

BOOM IN IT TRAINING POSES CHALLENGES FOR HIGHER EDUCATION

Clifford Adelman, a senior research analyst at the Department of Education, recently released a study on the growth of IT certification examinations and how this trend is affecting traditional colleges. Titled "A Parallel Postsecondary Universe," the study describes the more than 300 IT certification exams now in existence as a new educational industry separate from higher education. However, Adelman says certain kinds of traditional colleges could move into certification training programs, especially for computer science majors.

Although Adelman says certification programs do not reduce the need for traditional degrees, he concedes that in some cases degrees are not necessary for people with IT certification. In his paper, Adelman says the number of certificate holders without a B.A. rose from 19 percent in 1996 to 37 percent in 1998. IT certification has significantly advanced the idea of competency-based testing, and traditional colleges and universities could learn from this example, Adelman says. (Chronicle of Higher Education Online, 6 November 2000)

Edupage, 8 Nov 2000

Last updated:16/5/07

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