Getting a degree can open the door to a career, but the learning does not necessarily stop after graduation. As workplaces change and technology continues to reshape different industries, professionals are increasingly looking beyond academic qualifications to build practical skills and recognised credentials.
That was part of the thinking behind the launch of CareerCentra, a new career advancement platform by iCentra, a global technology and business solutions company with 17 years of experience in enterprise transformation and capability development.
CareerCentra is designed to provide professionals across Africa, the United Kingdom and North America with structured learning, practical capabilities and globally recognised credentials.
Here are five areas professionals may consider developing beyond their university degrees.
1. Project and Programme Management
Many organisations work around projects, whether they involve launching a product, implementing new systems or delivering a major business initiative.
Understanding how to plan, organise and manage projects can therefore be useful across different industries.
CareerCentra includes programmes covering project, programme and portfolio management, giving professionals an opportunity to develop skills in this area.
2. Agile and Product Management
The way businesses develop products and respond to changing customer needs continues to evolve.
Agile approaches focus on adapting quickly, working collaboratively and improving products or services as work progresses.
CareerCentra offers programmes in agile and product management, alongside related areas that can help professionals understand how modern teams operate.
3. Business Analysis
A business may have a problem, but identifying the problem is only the beginning.
Business analysis involves understanding business needs, examining processes and helping organisations determine practical solutions.
It is one of the areas covered by CareerCentra as part of its professional development programmes.
4. Cybersecurity and Risk
As organisations rely more heavily on digital systems, protecting information and managing risks have become important areas of professional development.
CareerCentra includes cybersecurity and risk among its programme areas, giving professionals an opportunity to build knowledge in fields that are increasingly connected to how organisations operate.
5. Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are changing how many organisations work.
Professionals who understand these technologies may be better positioned to participate in digital transformation projects and adapt to changing workplace demands.
CareerCentra also offers programmes covering digital transformation and artificial intelligence.
It Is Not Just About Having Another Certificate
The growing focus on professional skills does not mean a university degree has become irrelevant.
Rather, the changing workplace means professionals may need to continue learning after graduation and build capabilities that complement their academic background.
Launching CareerCentra, iCentra Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Taopheek Babayeju, said the platform was created for professionals who want to take greater responsibility for their career development.
“CareerCentra was built for the professional who is ready to take ownership of what comes next,” Babayeju said.
He added that iCentra was extending its experience directly to individuals who “do not want to wait for someone else to invest in their growth.”
CareerCentra provides flexible learning formats, region-specific programme access and pricing, as well as guided pathways designed to take professionals from career development goals towards recognised achievements.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.