Training in computer network certification program is preferred approach for career development. One of the main ways to implement this approach is realized through academic programs of the world's leading manufacturers of network software and hardware. Universities successfully applied MikroTik RouterOS academic study program usually on small groups of students within three days. However, public education requires working with large groups of students and courses have a minimum duration of one semester. This article proposes a new approach for implementing MikroTik RouterOS academic study program into large groups of students in public higher education. The approach consists of six steps: Step 1 - Curriculum revision, development and improvement; Step 2 – Development of methodological tasks, both for lecture classes and for extracurricular activities; Step 3 - Creating additional mechanisms for motivation; Step 4 - Student preliminary examination; Step 5 – MikroTik RouterOS academic study program online certification. The proposed approach improves implementation of the MikroTik RouterOS academic study program in public higher education. As a result, students who appear for certification have greater success. The proposed approach has been piloted in practice since October 2014. In this article are shown tangible results from the application of MikroTik RouterOS academic study program in higher educational institution in full-time form of education. The approach can be applied in various forms of education in different disciplines.

2. Computer Networking
CERTIFICATIONS

3. 72%
72% of employers use IT
certifications as a requirement
for certain job roles
From CompTIA, in a CIO.com article published Mar., 2015
IT pros about certifications
65%
65% of employers use IT
certifications to decide between
equally qualified candidates
From CompTIA, in a CIO.com article published Mar., 2015
80%
80% of IT leaders say the skills
gap is real, citing lack of
preferred skills as the cause.
From TEKsystems, June, 2015
49%
49% of managers say lack of
technical skills is the main
reason for jobs going unfilled.
From Information Week, July 2015

4. MIKROTIK ROUTEROS
Academic Study Program

5. Requirements and benefits
Requirements
• motivation and
resources
• space and equipment
• Internet access
• MikroTik Academy
Trainer*
• approved training
materials
Benefit for Students
• opportunity to acquire
the basic knowledge in
RouterOS
• and MTCNA certificate
during academic studies
Benefit for Educational
Institutions
• opportunity to attract
more students by
offering MikroTik
certification

6. Academies around the world
37
countries
294
educational institutions
Asia
197
Europe
77
Latin America
14
Africa
4
Oceania
2

8. New approach and
RECENT RESULTS

9. New approach
1. Curriculum revision, development and
improvement
2. Development of methodological tasks
3. Creating additional mechanisms for
motivation
4. Student preliminary examination
5. MikroTik RouterOS academic study
program online certification

10. Curriculum revision
Traditional
• 9 modules
• 3 days / ~20h
New
• 12-13 weeks
• 15h lectures / 30h
exercises

11. Methodological tasks
Traditional
• Classes exercises
New
• Project-based
learning
methodology
• Extracurricular
activities
• Real-world
challenges and
problems

12. Mechanisms for motivation
Traditional
• Self-Motivation
• Certificate
New
• Competitive learning
model
• 3 router awards

13. Preliminary examination
Traditional
• 20 questions example
test
New
• 200 questions with a
clear practical purpose

14. Online certification
Traditional
• Small groups
• Special
requirements
New
• Large groups
• Internal policy

15. Training results
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%
Traditional methods
New aprouch
29%
88%
48%
71%
Average Score Certification Exam Pass Rate

16. Conclusions
• Higher education system - distinctive
features
• Tech companies - training course -
universities as study programs
• Implementation of any certification program
needs adoption
• The proposed approach improves adaption
of the MikroTik RouterOS academic study
program in public higher education

17. Q&A