Degree-Based IT Certification Programs: Implications for Curricula Designers in Higher Education
Ezegozie Eze, Faye X. Zhu
This paper presents an empirical study ofperceptions ofIT companies in a developing country towards differentforms of integration of IT certification in undergraduate IT study programs. In particular, we examined the views of IT companies in Nigeria regarding the feasibility ofimplementing three IT certification related undergraduate programs: degree-based IT certification program (DBC), degree-based internship program (DBI), and degree-based IT certification with internship program (DBCI). The data were collected and analyzed to determine if there exist differences in perceived program benefits and perceived student employability among DBC, DBI, and DBCI. The univariate analysis ofvariance (ANOVA), Tukey's honestlysignificant difference (HSD) method, andregression analysis were used to test the hypotheses. ~ report several primary findings. DBC and DBCI are perceived to offer higher benefits than DBI. The longer a company stays in business the more likely it will hire graduates from DBC or DBCI. Ourfindings collaborateprevious research in the USA andNigeria on the perceivedstudents' differences among DBC, DBI, and DBCI. ~ believe that the results from this study provide useful information to curricula designers in higher educational institutions who are considering moving their programsfrom the traditional approach to a mainstream job market demand approach.
Ezegozie Eze is a member ofthe Department ofManagement & MIS in the College of Business at Rowan Uuiversity.
Faye X. Zhu is a member ofthe Department ofManagement & MIS in the College of Business at Rowan University.
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