Choosing your major is perhaps one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your post-secondary student career. The pressure is on to get IT right. The good news is you’re not alone. Students all over the world are figuring out how to leverage their passion for technology into a career that will not only enhance their lives but also make a meaningful difference. CompTIA visited two of our international academy partners to learn how students are taking advantage of CompTIA certifications to add value to their resumes and open up doors all over the world.

Uxbridge College in Middlesex, England, is one of our many partners integrating CompTIA certifications into its curriculum and apprenticeship programs.

Apprenticeship tutor Debbie Comber believes CompTIA certifications add a lot of weight to the apprenticeship program and values the sense of accomplishment and confidence the apprentices feel at the end of the day. “It enables the students to feel actually feel they’ve achieved an awarding-body certification,” she said.

This also has direct implications for the apprentices on the job market and in their established positions. “I did know it would give us an advantage but I was underestimating it and then I found out the exact extent to which it can help us,” said HND student Haider Ali Shah. Apprentice Tyran Henry added, “My employer does recognize CompTIA certifications and they’re very proud of me for going through this route. They definitely pushed me to go down this route, which I’m quite thankful for as well.”

Check out this informative video on Uxbridge’s program.

Similarly, Tecnológico de Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico, decided to include CompTIA certifications in its program as a first foundational step into IT, thereby giving students the ability to understand the big picture and not just one focused discipline. Click here for a similar video on Tecnológico de Monterrey.

The school’s foundational approach has worked well for student Yoali Sotomayor Baqueiro, who realized her passion for technology but wasn’t quite sure what she wanted to do with it. “It opens many doors to find new opportunities, including those I was not aware of or had even considered,” she says.

Baqueiro isn’t alone. “We have graduates working all over the world,” says Rolando Vallejo Clemente, ITC professor at the Mexico City campus. “CompTIA credentials are valid internationally.”

In a world where technology and engineering are some of the brightest paths to success, having a degree plus a vendor-neutral, internationally-recognized IT certification gives these students a competitive edge.

“This is a career that will enhance my way of life,” says student Fernando Martin Garcia. “I think getting these certifications will be a real plus, allowing me to move into higher and more impactful positions on a national and perhaps international level.”

IT students know that employers are demanding certifications, and with your future on the line, what’s stopping you?

“A certification – any certification – helps you stand out from the crowd,” says student Dennis Lugo Sánchez. “But if it’s backed by CompTIA, even better!”

Want to see more? Check out how CompTIA certifications are preparing students for IT careers in the UK and in Mexico and then visit certification.comptia.org to make your next move!