[kictanet] [Skunkworks] Masters Degree Program: Is It Worth It?

[Andrea Bohnstedt]

I enjoyed doing my Masters: it was a great break to hear myself think again
after working like a donkey for a year and a half after my first degree. I
learned a lot - having to do class presentations, discussions and essays
really helped me shape my thinking. I also did it in a city I love a lot,
and met a bunch of great people.

But I am not an IT professional, so you may look at different priorities. I
think you'd need to ask yourself if you're after strictly technical
qualifications - then a certification may be more useful.


On 15 October 2013 14:58, Kivuva <Kivuva at transworldafrica.com> wrote:

> In my opinion, people pursue Masters for the paper value and the bragging
> rights. If you really needed knowledge, its cheaper both on time and
> finances to pursue it on your own, and you gain more Knowledge through self
> sturdy and research than through classwork.
>
> ______________________
> Mwendwa Kivuva
> twitter.com/lordmwesh
> google ID | Skype ID: lordmwesh
>
>
> On 15 October 2013 14:26, Leonard Kore <leonardkore at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> I can honestly say it *enhanced your knowledge and passion in the field.*
>> *
>> *
>> Then again it depends on which Masters you are doing.
>>
>> The new kind of Masters programs are actually very technical and provide
>> students with actual skills.
>>
>> Example:
>> http://www.ilabafrica.ac.ke/index.php/what-we-do/programs/safaricom-academy
>>
>> Anyway my humble 2 cents.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Tue, Oct 15, 2013 at 2:13 PM, Adam Nelson <adam at varud.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Michael,
>>>
>>> A Masters is potentially a program that can teach you a broad set of
>>> skills including how to think critically, how to communicate effectively,
>>> how to teach yourself, and how to work with others.
>>>
>>> A certificate is going to teach you how to do a specific set of tasks in
>>> a certain domain (i.e. Window Server management).
>>>
>>> The thing with certificates is that they last for no more than 10 years
>>> and typically only 5.  In addition, some people view certificates as an
>>> anti-credential and count them against the candidate with the theory that
>>> certificates aren't demonstrative of true comprehension of the subject
>>> matter.
>>>
>>> I would choose the Masters since it's a credential that lasts a lifetime
>>> but of course it's also far more expensive that just a series of certs.
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>> Adam
>>>
>>> --
>>> Kili.io - OpenStack for Africa: kili.io
>>> Musings: twitter.com/varud <https://twitter.com/varud>
>>> About Adam: www.linkedin.com/in/adamcnelson
>>>
>>>
>>> On Tue, Oct 15, 2013 at 1:44 PM, Michael Bullut <main at kipsang.com>wrote:
>>>
>>>> Greetings Listers,
>>>>
>>>> I've been wrestling with a quagmire for sometimes now about pursuing a
>>>> Masters Degree Program. As an Information Technology professional, would it
>>>> more pertinent to seek vendor certifications as they instruct on what
>>>> technologies the industry is using? In my humble observation, professionals
>>>> of all fields pursue a Masters either because it is fashionable or they
>>>> have no other choice but to do so. My question to my brethren: *What
>>>> would your advice be in such a situation?* *Did you pursue a Masters
>>>> because it was a means to an end or it enhanced your knowledge and passion
>>>> in the field? *
>>>>
>>>> *Help a wandering young man out?*
>>>>
>>>> Warm regards,
>>>>
>>>> Michael Bullut.
>>>>
>>>> ---
>>>>
>>>> *Cell:* *+254 723 393 114.
>>>> **Skype Name:* *Michael Bullut.*
>>>> ***Twitter:** @Kipsang <http://twitter.com/Kipsang/>
>>>> *
>>>> *Blog: http://www.kipsang.com/*
>>>> *E-mail:* *main at kipsang.com*
>>>> *
>>>> *
>>>> *---*
>>>>
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>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Leonard Kore
>>
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-- 
Andrea Bohnstedt <http://ke.linkedin.com/in/andreabohnstedt>
Analyst/Publisher

www.ratio-magazine.com
www.africa-assets.com
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