DCA
...Another key part of
the strategy is to make
the course available to
commercial training
organisations and
other Universities as a
portable package.
Middle East region if such a need could
be identified where the course could be
replicated within the region.
It is also a key objective to make
students aware of the potential career
opportunities and paths offered by a
career within the data centre sector.
After all the industry must advertise its
potential if it is to successfully attract the
best new talent available.
Therefore, the DCA will also be
constructing a matrix of qualifications
and career paths, as a “living document”
on DCA website which will form an
important part of course content.
widening the number of people entering
the industry. Therefore the course is
targeted specifically at people not yet
employed in data centre sector or those
newly employed.
Early in 2016 University of East London
established a portable, low cost, twoday foundation education course called
“Data Centre Essentials” which builds on
much of the research and consultation
carried out during the EU Commission
funded Pan European Data Centre
Academy (PEDCA) Project.
The data centre industry is supported
by some excellent training provided by
various training organisations, however
our research showed that the vast
majority of recipients of this training
where already employed within the data
centre industry, which of course does
not help in addressing the problem of
www.intelligentcio.com
The outcomes of the course would
cover basic level of knowledge and
awareness that all data centre “industry”
staff need, irrelevant of their role within
it. The course is designed to focus
on education rather than role-based
training, in other words, it does not
replace the essential “how” aspects, but
leans toward the “why and wherefores”
behind the data centre’s role in society,
why they are critical and need to be
reliable and secure. It would also cover
essential information on best practices,
standards and how they relate to the
main customer demands and functions
of data centres.
Critically, at this level where students
will be hopeful of gaining a career with
the industry, the course will provide a
recognised qualification to assist both
employees and employers. In addition
we are hopeful of securing CPD eligibility
to assist people with skills relevant to
data centres to “convert” successfully to
a career within the data centre industry.
Of course another key part of the
strategy is to make the course available
to commercial training organisations
and other Universities as a portable
package, this would indeed help the
Clearly, DCA Members will playing a
large role in supporting UEL in this work
and will benefit from early access to the
training and special subsidies.
ABOUT
Steve Hone is the co-founder of
Data Centre Alliance and sits on the
management team as Operations
Director. Having been in the IT Industry
since the heady days of the ‘.com boom’
and has been lucky enough to work
for and with some great people and
organisations on critical IT projects
over the years.
In 2007 he co-founded Colofinder.
co.uk, an independent data centre
search and selection consultancy
providing specialist advice and
guidance on the colocation market
globally. Prior to getting into IT and
Data Centres Steve was an Electrical
and Mechanical Chartered Engineer
in the MOD before eventually moving
into the commercial world of Sales and
Management.
INTELLIGENTCIO
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