The importance of competencies certification for professional development student’s perspective based on IPMA-Student certification example

Purpose: The primary aim of the research was to investigate the motivations, demographic characteristics, and career outcomes of participants in the IPMA-Student certification program. The study sought to understand what drives students and young professionals to pursue certification, how their educational background and professional aspirations influence this decision, and what barriers may limit their progression to higher certification levels. By doing so, it aims to highlight the role of certification in early career development. It provides educators, employers, and certification organizations insights to support young professionals' professional growth. Design/methodology/approach: The research objectives were achieved through a combination of literature review and empirical data collection, focusing on the IPMA-Student certification program. The paper's theoretical and subject scope focus on the significance of professional certification, particularly the IPMA-Student certification, in developing competencies for students and early-career professionals. Findings: The research revealed several key insights into the motivations, demographics, and career impacts of the IPMA-Student certification for students and early-career professionals. Research limitations/implications: The research focused specifically on the IPMA-Student certification program in Poland. This narrow scope may only partially reflect trends in project management certification in other countries or within different certification frameworks. Practical implications: The research underscores the importance of recognizing certifications as a skill benchmark and offering support (e.g., funding or incentives) for employees to pursue them. Social implications: The data suggests that certifications significantly support gender equality in the workplace by empowering women to overcome barriers like the "glass ceiling". Originality/value: The paper offers a detailed examination of the IPMA-Student certification, a relatively understudied area within project management certification. This paper is valuable to several audiences, such as students and early-career professionals, educators and universities, certification bodies, employers, researchers, and policymakers.