Professional Qualifications?

[revilo]

Hi all,

 

Brand new to the forums, so hello! I'm the Network Manager for a large academy that has just become a multi-academy trust, and having worked here since 2008, i've worked my way up from Technician > Senior Tech > Deputy Network Manager > Network Manager.

 

On paper, I have basically zero professional qualifications that relate to my job, and as the MAT grows they will be advertising for more of a Director role. Obviously I would love to go for that, and I think I stand a pretty good chance given my experience here, but I think my lack of qualifications would hold me back.

 

My job is becoming more strategic rather than operational, so I'm not sure how much good Microsoft/Cisco qualifications would do. I was wondering if there were any IT management/project planning etc. qualifications that anyone could recommend?

 

Thanks!

[itguy22]

Hope this thread helps somewhat.

I will be following this one with interest too.

 

Hi all,

 

Brand new to the forums, so hello! I'm the Network Manager for a large academy that has just become a multi-academy trust, and having worked here since 2008, i've worked my way up from Technician > Senior Tech > Deputy Network Manager > Network Manager.

 

On paper, I have basically zero professional qualifications that relate to my job, and as the MAT grows they will be advertising for more of a Director role. Obviously I would love to go for that, and I think I stand a pretty good chance given my experience here, but I think my lack of qualifications would hold me back.

 

My job is becoming more strategic rather than operational, so I'm not sure how much good Microsoft/Cisco qualifications would do. I was wondering if there were any IT management/project planning etc. qualifications that anyone could recommend?

 

Thanks!

[hardtailstar]

I have seen people mention the ITIL qualification on here before.

 

I don't know anything about it so can't recommend it.

[win]

ITIL and PRINCE2 would be useful. However, i think at a higher level they like academic qualifications as well. A part time post graduate course if you can manage it, although it won't help with your 'real life' work it will impress the decision makers.

[Soulfish]

ITIL for IT/Support processes and PRINCE2 for project management are the two pretty standard IT management style qualifications you'll get asked for in business.

[GrumbleDook]

To be honest, a good place to visit for discussions on certification is CertForums. A number of members are admins or regulars over there and you can get a lot of advice about what is in the relevant courses too.

 

ITIL/FITS, Prince2/Prince2AGILE, etc are really good but you have to be ready to do a lot of 'translation' into education management speak. The certificate and diploma of School Business Management was always a good one for understanding school management, and the materials are now freely available under OGL so have a look there. That will help you understand school strategy. The National Association of School Business Management is a good place to enquire as well.

 

There are various MOOCs around on technology strategy, and someone like @wagnerk could advise more there (a resident cert jockey and OU tutor to boot). Coursera and EDx are good places to look for MOOCs.