A senior database administrator (DBA) who lives in South Africa, Radiy Adams specializes in disaster recovery and high availability for his company’s systems. Because the landscape of database administration is constantly changing, Radiy knew he had to keep current if he wanted to excel.
“Software developers in my organization don't really work with data structures and objects,” he said. “As primarily a production DBA, there was a huge gap between working with software developers and the data we use. That is one of the main reasons I signed up for the certificate.”
Radiy and his manager decided that he should look for a program that would teach him the skills to be more efficient and knowledgeable with SQL databases. “SQL server development has become a critical skill required by modern DBAs,” he said, so zeroing in on a program that specializes in SQL became paramount.
After researching several courses worldwide, Radiy chose the UW Certificate in SQL Server & Database Development program. Why enroll in a program so far away?
“When I looked at other programs both locally in South Africa and abroad in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, they covered general database administration,” Radiy explained. “The UW was the only university that focused on SQL server development specifically, and as a SQL server DBA, that was right up my alley.”
HALF THE WORLD AWAY
Although he was several time zones away from his peers, Radiy found the UW online experience easy to navigate, and it opened his eyes to global education. “This experience changed my life completely. If I embark on future studies, I’d want them to be structured in this manner,” he said. “I was impressed by both the technology and the online learning environment. It’s incredible how we have no more borders when it comes to education.”
From start to finish, Radiy found the entire process seamless. “It’s been wonderful. Not only the certificate component, but the registration process, quick turnaround times and course surveys. It’s as if UW has perfected the online education system.”
In His Own Words
Alum Radiy Adams explains how the UW Certificate in SQL Server & Database Development helped him learn critical skills that have been invaluable for his career growth.
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A RICH LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Radiy valued the rigor and depth of the SQL server development coursework, and he placed special emphasis on his instructors. “I loved the in-depth feedback the teachers would give at the end of every assignment. The knowledge and industry experience of the instructors really helped pull the course together.”
According to Radiy, having a UW credential is powerful in the worldwide job market. “If you look at the top 100 universities in the world, the UW is there. When you have a certificate from an institution with such a high ranking and quality to its name, it opens opportunities.”
A MORE EFFICIENT ADMINISTRATOR
Armed with new skills in SQL database administration, including a foundation in Transact-SQL and PowerShell, Radiy feels more confident finding innovative ways to handle errors and understand data transactions. “My output has tripled since January. I know how to optimize my decisions to get value from the solutions I implement, which is priceless to the organization I work for.”
Radiy says this course is ideal for SQL server DBAs like himself, but also “data professionals, database developers, software engineers and software developers,” he said. “The world runs on data, and this course teaches you how to retrieve data effectively and efficiently.”