I am currently working as an IT Asset Manager. The job is basically about procuring, distributing, re-allocating, retiring the IT assets (hardware + software), in short it is about the whole life cycle of an IT equipment. By IT equipment i mean, all the hardware e.g. desktops, laptops, Workstations, plotters, printers, MFDs, PDAs, even the accessories like HDDs etc within our computing environment. My job role includes the management of Software Assets as well. May be many of you know that the Software asset management is quite in demand now days due to high possibility of hidden cost savings for the company.
I am holding Professional Hardware Asset Management certification from IAITAM - USA, then Professional certification in supply chain management and procurement, ITIL foundation V.3, plus the Software Asset Management training will be completed by the end of this year inshAllah, as it is the part of my training schedule for this year.
Now the thing is that I want to study in Canada. I want you guys to give me some good suggestions on what I should study in Canada? Something of course that is related to my current profession/job. I was thinking about doing an MBA in Information Technology. Do you think its a good idea?
Do you know of any good, accredited/recognized Universities there who accepts International students and holds good reputation in this regard??
I am basically into Management and not into the technical area of IT. Please help me out. Your suggestions are highly appreciated.
There are quite a few options. What's your undergrad background? and have you taken care of the GMAT already?
Also, do you have any specific parts of Canada in mind? do you have family here? I'd want to narrow down your choices, or at least provide you with options for the East coast, West coast, Maritimes etc.
^ A colleague of mine , who is relocating to Canada, said that weather is not severely cold in all parts of Canada. In some parts of Canada (Toronto one of them i think) weather is slightly (bearable) cold and some months are even sunny. wrong?
I need to look up on Masters in Technology management. Is it inline with what I am doing currently? Plus will it add value to my resume and professional qualifications? Does it get you better paid jobs?
Are there any short courses, diplomas, like 6-12months courses available in IT management field, that I should consider?
I have not done GMAT yet. First i need to decide what am i going to do. Then accordingly I will do GMAT, TOFEL and IELTS etc. whatever is required.
Since you’re open to different programs and cities within Canada, I’m going to suggest programs in Universities that are located in major cities like Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver etc.
Severity of weather is a subjective thing. Once you live here, you’d prolly think -5C is good weather :-). Temperatures in Toronto / Ottawa / Montreal can dip to -20C… feels worse with the wind chill.
But yes, we have a generally good summer season (May to August).
Of course this isn’t a complete list… it’s just the programs I’m familiar with.
My own University offers a Master’s in e-Business but it may be a little too technical for your needs - although it’s a balanced program between Business and Technology topics. Since you asked about shorter programs, my University also offers a graduate certificate in Technology Project Management:
Hey someone suggested me to do MIS - Management Information Systems. It is a masters program. I googled and found there are many Universities in US offering it. Majorly it is a 18 months course/degree. Any ideas on good schools for MIS. Will it be easy to go as a student to US or Canada?
One more thing, when I write to these Universties in US, thru "Contact Us" they do not reply. Why is it so? I thought they were prompt in replying to queries. :-S -
if it is for an in person program, your query may have been forwarded to international programs. since most uni semesters just started, they are fairly busy getting new international students through orientation, getting them situated etc. Is your note specific i.e. you are interested in applying for xyz term and what info are you looking for.
^ Well I generally asked them about the cost and duration of the degree. Plus what was the admission criteria for International students. etc. Some of the info i couldnt find on their sites.
I have found this one site GradSchools.com and which is quite useful. I have not explored it completely but I am hopefull that I will be able to filter 2-3 Uni's of my choice. Once I do that, I am going to call up their admissions dept. and ask them questions on phone.
Have you guys even heard of this MIS? Not many Uni's have it listed under their Graduate progs. :(
FT, if you look closely at the links I provided, most of those programs are MIS specializations within the MBA. That's how MIS is typically offered at the graduate level - it's part of a graduate degree in business (MBA or MSc Management etc).
I, myself, am an MIS professor, and my suggestion is to look at the curriculum carefully before deciding. Some Universities offer a hard-core MIS concentration in the MBA with courses from Computer Science, while programs at some other institutions are primarily management oriented in nature. Obviously, there will be technology stuff in the backdrop, but the focus will be on strategic management of technology assets, project management best practices, systems development frameworks, business process reengineering, and change management related topics.
^ Yes the one link I provided from Uni of Minnesota, they have the MIS with two major concentrations. One is technical and other is non-technical. I also fulfill their pre-requisites for the admission. Plus they dont require GMAT :D. I am looking for same carriculum somewhere in a warmer State like CA, TX, AZ etc. but i cannot seem to find the same carriculum. Even Chicago will be good because i have family there.
I spoke to my family regarding Canada and everyone said there is none of our family or close friends there. How can they allow me to go there alone? :(
In US, i have families in some STates, plus my sister is going to Chicago for a long term, to get GC and Nationality. Plus my firm being American, may be agree to let me work from home. So these are few plus points i see in studying in US.
^ whatever works for you FT - good luck with everything :) ... just pay special attention to the MIS program curriculum. Like I said, it can be as different as night and day between different universities. Some are too technical, some not at all ; some housed at business schools, others at IT schools etc.
^ Thank you prof. Sahib :) Yes I am looking at the Curriculum coz that is more important. I have browsed so many Universities and couldnt finalize even one :( It is getting disappointing. I am thinking if there is any other option than MIS?
By the way, I am open to study in US as well. So something that you think is offered better in US, please let me know. thank you.
"Open to"? Next you'd say nobody sent me a ticket!
Ok, seriously tho, sit by urself one day, and ask yourself the question "What is my purpose of of going to school in N.America?
-Is it to study and learn new things in the area you're in?
-Is it to further your career and get promotions?
-Is it to get into a new career where there might be more potential of advancements and income?
-Or is it to study in NA and check out how it is to live there?
This is just so you'd get a understanding on why. Next should come the question of Where and What.
One of the hot degree out there is IT Security. With your experienice in IT, I believe it would be an amazing degree for your career. having a MITS degree with added IASA, GIAC certificates, you would be really high in demand.
Universities like Carleton, UoIT are few universities which has took initiative in this specific field. I myself holds a MITS (Masters in IT Security from UoIT) degree - though i am not interested in IT .. so i am using this knowledge towards software security.
Let me know if you need any help regarding this field.
