Agile solutions

University undergraduate and postgraduate degrees

Can I do an agile project management course at university in the UK?

Many colleges and universities in the United Kingdom (e.g. The Open University) offer a variety of agile and project management qualifications and courses. Universities may seem like a good idea to study, but you must consider whether they have the necessary expertise. University teachers are used to teaching academic courses lasting a semester. However, the agile project management courses that many professionals choose to take only last a few days. For continuing professional development, an agile professional should seek an instructor who has the necessary agile skills and experience. In universities, lecturers will know the theory, but they won't necesarily have the practical agile experience. For learners, that is not a good learning experience.

Frequently asked questions (faqs)

What is DSDM?

DSDM, also known as DSDM Atern is the Dynamic Systems Development Methodology. It was developed by the Agile Business Consortium in England, UK.

Agile project management (Agile PM) was developed from DSDM. Agile PM aids agile practitioners throughout the whole agile software development process, and forms a good alternative to a waterfall approach for the software development life cycle.

What is Agile PM training?

Agile PM training is available as syncronous learning - classroom and virtual classroom courses. Students not wanting to attend a class hae the option of taking asyncronous digital learning in the form of self-paced elearning. E-learning makes use of technology to deliver the learning over the internet. Either options are perfect for students seeking continuing professional development because they help candidates gain sufficient information, knowledge and understanding to pass the examinations successfully.

What are Agile PM exams like?

Agile certification requires a candidate to sit an exam. The examination can be taken online or at the end of a class. Many of the topics tested in the agile project management exam are about agile techniques such as MoSCoW prioritisation, timeboxing and user stories. Students should also be familiar with agile methods and tools such as Scrum and Kanban, but not DevOps. Exams are knowledge based, not skill based.

Should I do Agile PM or PRINCE2 Agile?

PRINCE2 is amongst the most popular project management professional certifications. For many people, getting PRINCE2 professional certification is sufficient to add to their CV. However, for students who work in an agile project context they should take PRINCE2 Agile or Agile PM instead.