Are You Looking for PDUs? You Shouldn’t!

Hi there! I hope you are well and healthy. I have wanted to write about this for a long time. Today is the day. :)

Are you looking for PDUs (Professional Development Units) to earn or maintain a degree?

You shouldn’t. PDUs are a byproduct of the lock-in business model, which badly takes advantage of students. Here is why.

I will explain the lock-in business model, why it is so profitable for education providers and why it is bad for students.

Imagine you love reading, studying and absorbing the world’s information. You decide to earn a degree in subject X for proven credibility or social proof. X can be anything you want to learn or improve, without limits. You earn that degree from a “reputable and famous” education company. So far, so good.

Then comes the surprise. To maintain your degree, the “famous company” asks you to keep paying for PDUs and all sorts of fees. You pay extras again and again simply to keep your name associated with it. That is the lock-in business model in education.

Memberships, subscriptions, communities, additional content, books, videos, tools, events: the list goes on. The “famous company” does not sincerely care whether you need these extras to maintain your knowledge or degree. It cares about the locked-in income it milks from you. You could lead a space shuttle team through a successful mission, yet it could still revoke your leadership degree because you did not pay extra PDU fees. ;)

Ironic, isn’t it?

Let’s open our eyes. Be careful, and remember that education is a business, too. Countless other examples show “famous companies” optimizing their own income while badly abusing students.

Whether you usually think as a businessperson or a consumer, you need to understand the most common business models used worldwide.

As a businessperson, that knowledge helps you serve your audience better and honestly. As a consumer, it helps you uncover companies’ hidden agendas in any industry. Before spending money, take a few minutes to consider the model you are entering. Is it designed to solve your problems, or to make you pay again and again?

If you have read this far, here are two useful resources to take your thinking further.

1. A checklist of 55 of the world’s most common business models. You need to understand them as a consumer as well as a professional.

A Comprehensive List of Business Models To Accelerate You and Your Business.

2. A globally recognized software testing certification degree without lock-in, just like our other programs. If you do not need it now, please recommend our affordable, student-friendly services to your friends and colleagues.

Software Test Manager Accredited Certification™ Program

Thank you very much for your support and attention.

Take care. :)

Yeliz