By Jason Compton

CIOs never stop evolving. New software, hardware and business processes often require impromptu on-the-job learning. But while self-learning is wonderful, sometimes a more formal educational setting can provide a fresh way of thinking. In fact, for many CIOs, furthering an education can be a good way to prepare for today’s—and tomorrow’s—challenges. And not just the technical ones, says Bradley Samargya, Senior VP and Chief Learning Officer at CA: “No CIO can be effective without an understanding of the company’s business, and that knowledge extends outside of its infrastructure.”

For CIOs and other IT leaders who have come up through the technology ranks, there’s one especially effective way to gain this knowledge: continuing education. Today, CIOs seeking to continue their educations have a plethora of choices. From intensive week-long programs to formal, degree-awarding courses of study, there’s seemingly a course for everyone. The need couldn’t be greater, says Laurie Orlov of LMO Insights, an IT analysis and consulting firm. “The 21st-century CIO is a businessperson with a strong business background, and what I would call an MBA-level of education,” she says. Below, six continuing-education programs that smart CIOs should consider.

CIO Community of Practice
University of Central Florida
orbit.ucf.edu/CIOoverview.asp

A component of UCF’s ORBIT continuing education program, this group gathers twice each year in sessions that address issues crucial to information technology management. With a strong emphasis on the Florida High Tech Corridor, the program’s executive briefing sessions include presentations from top CIOs about topics such as IT innovation, leadership development and the creation of a real-time enterprise.

The program’s steering group includes representatives from international restaurant operator Darden, HD Supply, Siemens PG, Boeing, Disney and the UCF Management Systems Performance Laboratory.

AUDIENCE: Senior IT management

ADVANTAGE: Peer discovery and strategy development. Some content has a central Florida-specific slant, but many of the case studies and discussion topics are universal.

CIO as Full Business Partner
Wharton School / Gartner Executive Programs
executiveeducation.wharton.upenn.edu

This weeklong session, held annually, emphasizes the expanding role the CIO can — and should — play in the larger business landscape. Admission is limited to CIOs who report directly to the CEO. Sessions, which are taught by Wharton faculty, adjunct faculty and Gartner experts, cover human capital management, future IT technologies and case studies.

The 2007 program emphasized the CIO’s role in the management-investor interface, CIO strategies for interacting with the financial arm of the business, and ways the IT organization can collaborate with marketing and sales to improve its company’s overall position.

AUDIENCE: CIOs

ADVANTAGE: Improving the position of the CIO within the overall business structure.

CIO Solutions
Fisher College of Business Ohio State University fisher.
osu.edu/programs/executive-education/current-programs

OSU’s business school sponsors a peer-led seminar series for CIOs and other senior technology executives. Several meetings are held throughout the course of the year. Six events are on the 2008 calendar. This year’s topics included peer collaboration among CIOs and developing IT as a strategic differentiator in an increasingly commodity-driven world. Participation is by invitation only, but executives may submit their names for consideration.

The format includes both dinner sessions, which focus on open idea exchange, and two-day workshops featuring case studies and new ideas.

AUDIENCE: Senior IT managers and CIOs

ADVANTAGE: Regular, organized opportunities to exchange information and ideas with a quality-controlled peer group. Past participants laud the discussion groups that developed around seminar topics.

Information Systems Management
Heinz School of Public Policy and Management, Carnegie Mellon University
heinz.cmu.edu/ism

CMU arguably leads the pack when it comes to variety and breadth of degree offerings for the CIOs of the future. The university bestows a variety of MS degrees in IT disciplines and also has a Ph.D. program for IS policy and management. “Our IS management degree can be thought of as a bridge between the highest levels of an MBA and a computer science degree,” says Andrew Wasser, Associate Dean at CMU. “We don’t try to out-biz the MBAs or out-tech the computer scientists.”

CMU’s master’s degree in IS management, which is offered only at its Pittsburgh campus, is its flagship program and, as such, is geared toward up-and-coming business/IT players with an eye on the CIO spot. Those further along in their careers aren’t left out.

CMU offers the Master of Information Systems Management program, which is provided both on campus and as a distance learning program. CMU also offers ongoing programs for CIOs through its CIO Institute. Designed for those who don’t have time for a full degree course or who have already obtained advanced degrees but want to stay current, the program, held in Arlington, Va., has a heavy focus on government issues despite the fact that its student body is a 50/50 government and civilian participant mix.

AUDIENCE: Ranges from up-and-coming leaders looking for an extra edge to top-level CIOs

ADVANTAGE: Immersion in modern practices of successful business IT management; some programs offered as distance-learning experiences.

Delivering Information Services
Harvard Business School Executive Education
exed.hbs.edu/programs/dis

First developed in 1970, this intensive one week program designed for senior IT executives runs every July. Classroom sessions focus on a range of topics, all of which have a strong emphasis on business interaction. The central theme of the program, however, is identifying the role of the senior IT executive as a business leader and molding attendees into strong contributors to the executive team. Another major focus: helping participants balance business considerations with technology growth and innovation.

“We spend a lot of time discussing how you build stronger relationships with business leaders while you push for IT growth and innovation in the organization,” says Charles Breckling, Managing Director of Marketing at Harvard Business School .

Key topics include project implementation, risk management, data security and crisis management, along with the challenges and benefits of off-shoring and open source software. The program has a strong international flavor: In 2007, fewer than half the participants were North American, and sessions were attended by IT executives from nearly 20 countries.

AUDIENCE: CIOs

ADVANTAGE: Developing business leadership skills appropriate to the highest level of corporate governance. _

Glassmeyer/McNamee Center for Digital Strategies
Tuck School of Business Dartmouth College
mba.tuck.dartmouth.edu/digital

The Tuck School assembles thought leaders and IT executives to participate in workshops, roundtables and intensive information-sharing sessions throughout the course of the year. Most of the events include both IT and executive management participants, such as those with marketing, strategy or operations oversight. This provides CIOs with valuable exposure to peers they may not typically interact with. Experts, who are gleaned from the center’s own membership base, present such topics as strategies for customer data stewardship, security and risk management, and the corporate role of Web 2.0. The program has an international focus, a key for today’s global economy.

Tuck’s Roundtable on Digital Strategies is a quarterly discussion group targeted at Global 1000 IT leaders in North America and Europe. With four annual meetings in the U.S. and overseas, participants have a tremendous opportunity to network with senior IT leadership from some of the world’s top companies. Professors from the Tuck School also take part in the sessions and presentations, and the center collaborates with Tuck’s academic program on a number of MBA-track courses with particular strategic relevance to the CIO or rising IT executive.

AUDIENCE: Senior IT managers and CIOs

ADVANTAGE: Exposure to international ideas; integration with Tuck’s MBA degree.

Jason Compton is a freelance writer who contributes regularly to many business and technology publications.