When Barento Abdushekur graduated from university with a degree in engineering, he had big dreams of starting his own engineering business. However, he lacked the work experience and confidence to turn his business ideas into a reality.
“I went to university straight after high school, so I didn’t have very much professional experience,” Abdushekur said.
Abdushekur decided that the next step to building his own business was earning a certification from the Project Management Institute, a professional organization focused on the project management industry. A credential in project management would allow Abdushekur to design, lead, and execute engineering projects with skill and ease. But he knew he didn’t have the educational background he needed to pass the certification exam.
By chance, Abdushekur happened upon an advertisement for Purdue University's online Master’s in Computer and Information Technology (Concentration- Project Management) program while browsing LinkedIn. Abdushekur recognized Purdue as a big name in engineering and technology. He also noticed that Purdue’s program was structured around materials developed by the Project Management Institute, and that he could use the coursework to prepare for his project management certification.
“I was living in Canada at the time, so I knew that if I was going to go back to school it needed to have a distant learning component,” Abdushekur said. “I immediately recognized Purdue as a high-quality school, and I knew that if I got into the program it would really add validity to my experience and value to my resume.”
After taking a chance and applying to Purdue, Abdushekur was admitted. Though he was excited to finally pursue a degree in project management and work towards his dream, he had never completed a degree online before, and he wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.
“The online aspect of the program totally surprised me in a good way,” Abdushekur said. “The courses were structured very conveniently so I could move at my own pace, and all the learning materials were consistently engaging -- I always felt like I was getting so much from my classes.”
The flexibility of the online program was a big help to Abdushekur, who has consistently worked two jobs while completing his degree. Though he was often pressed for time and working more than 40 hours a week, he found an abundance of support in the program, particularly when interacting with faculty.
“The professors were absolutely phenomenal,” Abdushekur said. “They were always willing to communicate and provide feedback or help me solve problems, I even had some of their phone numbers -- that’s how dedicated they were.”
“The faculty who teach in the online professional project management MS degree program are especially equipped to assist students with the work as well as work-life balance since all have both industry experience as well as being full-time academics,” said Jeff Brewer, associate professor of Communication and Information Technology at Purdue and Director of CIT’s Professional MS Degree programs. “We understand the time constraints students are under which led us to design a flexible curriculum covering both the current set of best practices in the field with just enough science to aid in understanding.”
In addition to the support he received, Purdue’s program gave Abdushekur a broad base of practical knowledge that he could immediately apply in his career.
“By the end of the program I felt like a very competent project manager,” Abdushekur said. “I took classes in Agile management, how to customize project plans, quality and risk management, and by the end of my classes I felt like I knew what to do in terms of moving my business forward.”
He began launching his business while he was still a graduate student, and he plans to expand it once he graduates this summer.
“After graduation, I want to work on hiring more people, running more projects, and growing in scope,” Abdushekur said. “Purdue’s program was like a guidebook on how to run a successful engineering business.”
Abdushekur plans to attend his graduation ceremony in August, and hopes he will get to see some of his classmates and professors in person. He is also excited to finally see Purdue’s West Lafayette campus for himself -- an experience he’s been imagining since he first started at Purdue a year ago.
“I think attending the graduation ceremony will really drive home what it means to be a Boilermaker,” Abdushekur said. “Even though I’m an online student, I feel so connected to Purdue,” Abdushekur said. “I love wearing my Purdue merchandise, and I’m so excited to be able to say that I’m a Purdue alum.”
After he graduates, Abdushekur has a number of big plans. In addition to growing his engineering business, he plans to finally apply for his project management certificate from the Project Management Institute. He is currently taking what’s basically a certification exam preparation class through Purdue, so he’s confident he’ll be able to pass the exam and use his certification to help further his career.
“I look at all the things I’ve accomplished at Purdue, and I want everyone to know that it’s possible for them too,” Abdushekur said. “One year ago I felt completely unprepared to run a business, and now all of that has changed. Going to Purdue ended up being one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
To learn more about Purdue’s 100% online Master of Science in IT project management, visit the program’s website.
