For school-leavers, choosing the right career is often a difficult decision, and deciding on the course that best suits their specific career requirements is as important as choosing the right educational solution.
IT has become the driving force behind the country`s economy and offers many different career options. Entering into this market, however, is becoming an increasingly difficult proposition. Recent statements have highlighted several factors that should be considered by learners when selecting an IT training institution. Yet one crucial point seems to be constantly downplayed - the training provider`s accreditation.
"A close examination of the accreditations of a training provider will give a clear indication of the competence of that training provider," says Dr Madelise Grobler, MD of CS Education Solutions, the IT training division of CS Holdings.
"Accreditation highlights the fact that the training provider has the necessary skills and infrastructure to competently provide training. For example, receiving accreditations from Microsoft or Sun tells a potential learner that the institution provides the best possible training in those technologies."
More than that, accreditations tell the potential learner that the selected learning institution has the backing of the accrediting company in the form of direct access to experts, updates on products and new releases.
"The accrediting company provides training institutions with an important source of information and expertise. It also reassures the learner that the person training them is properly qualified and has access to the latest developments."
Despite these advantages, recent independent research shows that there is an alarming shortage of IT institutions in possession of a full range of accreditations. This research, reviewing South African IT training institutions, covered, among others, accreditations from Microsoft, Citrix, Prometric, Cisco, ITA, Novell, Oracle, Pastel, SAP, Sun Microsystems and Symantec. The alarming conclusion shows, that with one or two exceptions, most training providers are not accredited to train learners in industry-leading technologies.
Grobler also recommends that potential students add career counselling, facilities, network and real IT experience to accreditations when they compile a training provider checklist. "Too few trainer providers have real experience in the IT industry, outside of education. Make sure that your chosen institution is able to back theoretical knowledge with practical, hands-on experience. An IT company that has implemented these theories in the business world is eminently qualified to teach them," says Grobler.
Make sure that you choose a training provider that is accredited, experienced and established enough to smooth your entrance into the IT market.
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