Investigate how integrating vendor certifications within Computing modules affect student motivation, engagement and employability prospects

Project leader(s): Amaninder Singh
Theme: Supporting students
Faculty: STEM
Status: Current
Dates: October 2023 to September 2025

Within many OU Computing modules and microcredentials, vendor certification content is partially integrated, or the modules are created solely based on the vendor qualifications (e.g., Cisco, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Education & Development Group (OpenEDG), EC-Council, Microsoft etc).

This project aims to investigate the impact of this integration and evaluate if it motivates and encourages students to study these modules in the first instance and to what extent. The project will also evaluate student perceived value and industry recognition for completing these specific modules and explore the potential effect of vendor elements on promotion and employability prospects.

As a part of the literature review, the project will attempt to critically compare with competing universities who are utilising vendor resources within their own comparable programmes.