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UC Berkeley Global: Where online learning leads to new opportunities

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Sian Fennessey lives and works in Switzerland. But that didn’t stop her from getting a UC Berkeley education all the way from California.

In 2015, Sian had wanted to transition from her role as a development engineer to a more senior managerial role.

The schools’ Project Management certificate, conducted fully online, offers exactly what Sian and other professionals like her need.

“I realised quite quickly that I had a very limited view of project management, but thanks to the courses, I have now improved my understanding of the full project cycle,” she said.

Step by step, Sian steadily built up her confidence and project management skills alongside her peers.

“Many of my classmates had previous work experience and would share their experiences in our discussion boards. It was interesting because I could learn about different industries and how project management was implemented in each,” she said.

Sian’s experience highlights the value and quality of an online UC Berkeley Global programme. Whether you want to get to the next level of the career ladder or divert to a new field, the well-known US university has a track record of getting professionals to their desired destinations.

Source: University of California Berkeley Global

Though conducted virtually, Berkeley Global’s programmes are able to do this due to one factor that distinguishes it from other universities: A dedicated faculty that will be with you every step of the way.

“The level of interaction with the instructors was more than I expected. I always received prompt feedback or comments to discussions or assignments,” Sian recalled.

Sian believes all the collaborative projects, discussions and coursework she toiled and invested for her Berkeley Global programmes really paid off.

“The Certificate and PMP credential are massive achievements for me. I have made the jump from the research laboratory to manufacturing,” the Zimmer Biomet Senior Research Engineer and Project Manager said.

Online certificates that carve your career path

Erik Bridy has 12 years’ worth of experience in financial consultancy at Cushman & Wakefield, one of the world’s largest commercial real estate services firms.

But to be able to truly help the CFOs of the companies with whom he works, Erik knew he was going to have to widen his accounting knowledge.

Berkeley Global’s Certificate Programme in Accounting was the obvious choice.

Source: University of California Berkeley Global

“I’ve always thought about pursuing my Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation, but in order to get the prerequisites to sit for the exam, I would have to get the equivalent — in terms of college units — of a graduate degree, which I didn’t have,” said Erik.

“So I did some research and came across this certificate. It feels like it was specifically tailored to what I needed: The credits to sit for the exam and being 100-percent online because I’m a full-time employee.”

After completing his certificate, Erik now finds himself qualified for several different career avenues.

He said: “That’s the beauty of being a CPA: The designation is transferable to any industry.”

Online courses that cater to your schedule

Alongside the diverse array of professional certificates, students also thrive professionally with online courses.

From art and design subjects to humanities and technology specialisations, there’s a programme for everyone at UC Berkeley Global.

Over the years, online instructor Marc Schiffman has seen many students take advantage of the university’s remote study offerings and apply them to new career opportunities.

Source: University of California Berkeley Global

Based on his vast experience teaching online courses, such as Introduction to Writing Fiction and Developing the Novel, Marc strongly believes that online learning has more pros than cons for students in his courses.

“The online format gives you the opportunity to voice your opinion without fear,” he said.

“You do not need to be shy about asking questions and can provide beneficial commentary in discussion forums and short-story draft submissions on fellow writers, without reservation.”

Then there’s the more diverse students that online courses tend to attract, offering a richer experience for the entire cohort.

“On an academic level, many online students do not have the opportunity to physically attend a university, and it is only through online education that they are given the freedom to learn,” the instructor said.

“I have had single mothers; men and women in their 60s and 70s; business executives; and students with roots in Japan, South Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Philippines and various European countries in my courses.”

Do you want to join fellow students around the world who are leveling-up their learning with a global university that ranks fourth in this 2020 US News & World Report ranking?

Are you open to taking the next step in your career? Then connect with the UC Berkeley Global team today.

The opportunities are all there—all you have to do is enroll.

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