University of West Scotland Enhances Industry Skills with PRINCE2 and DEVOPS Certifications for Students
Michele Cano, Head of Engineering and Physical Sciences Division, University of West Scotland
Michele Cano, Head of Engineering and Physical Sciences Division at University of West Scotland, knows only too well how important professional qualifications are for progressing a career in industry.
Over the last 30 years, she has seen the market for skills change significantly and, as Head of the Engineering and Physical Science faculty, she is keen to ensure every student leaves their course “work ready”.
This has now led to the University of West Scotland becoming the first university in Scotland to offer several professional certifications, including PRINCE2 Project Management, PRINCE2 Agile, and DevOps Foundation, with PRINCE2 Risk Management and Scrum Master I & II soon to join the list of the university’s offerings.
“Lately, there’s been growing demand to introduce professional certifications that complement the MSc Project Management programme that the university offers,” Michele explains.
“They know that to give themselves the best chance of entering the job market, they need to be able to demonstrate they can apply knowledge and skills to a new role from day one.”
“More students, especially those who are taking a break from work to study, are specifically asking for PRINCE2 Project Management. The qualification is widely applicable to running projects in various industries and in very high demand. Our Projects in Practice module, part of the MSc Project Management programme, provides a glimpse into the method, but students want more. In fact, they want specific help to gain professional certifications.”
Skills not just ‘know-how’
A mechanical engineer by trade who started as an apprentice gaining vital hands-on experience alongside professional qualifications, Michele explains that the education sector has needed to provide a wider variety of skills, not just the technical know-how.
“We looked for ways to provide our students with an opportunity to build a comprehensive set of capabilities, embodying technical know-how, transferable soft skills, as well as good understanding of the industrial standards of the graduate market they are entering. Our PeopleCert accreditation does exactly that, while also adding a competitive edge to their CVs. Working with PeopleCert, we’ve been able to identify the right mix of certifications to offer.”
Obtaining the PRINCE2 Project Management certifications made perfect sense to Michele and her team. It’s a way to meet the demands of current students, as well as the expectations of the graduate employers, and attract more students to the university from around the world.
Bridging theory and practical application
Students are initially introduced to PRINCE2 Project Management as one of 17 approaches to effective project management, as part of the Projects in Practice module of their Masters in Project Management Programme. The module spans popular methods, approaches, software and tools. At any point in the course, they can apply to take a dedicated PRINCE2 Project Management certifications alongside their studies.
Michele explains that this acts as a bridge between theory and practical application: “The PRINCE2 Project Management certification isn’t compulsory, it’s complementary. It is paid for by the university and, if students want to take the exam, they will get a discount on the examination fee.
“PRINCE2 Project Management has been well received by our students, with 138 Masters students already signed up. It’s a great start and we are confident we will get a similar reception upon roll-out of the remaining courses.”
Staff development enhanced too
Introducing PeopleCert best practices to the university also goes beyond the needs of its students.
“Our division consists of 75 established educators, with our project management team made of 23 lecturers, who also want to develop their careers and enhance their skills. Becoming a PRINCE2 Trainer is an enticing prospect because it’s a way to tap into industry insights and access professional development and add more strings to their bow. It’s a win-win,” Michele said.
To achieve its ambition, the university takes part in a “train the trainer” process with PeopleCert. This ensures maximum return on the investment. Not only that, having a dedicated pool of trainers means the university has more to offer the local community of industry leaders.
“We are always looking for ways we can deliver value to the community of business leaders in the region. With a strong team of accredited trainers, we can offer paid-for courses to businesses. This not only builds a revenue stream for the university but also helps us form partnerships with industry that can benefit our students and research.”