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Media ReleaseICT industry moves towards a global standard of professionalism with international memorandum of understandingACS, British Computer Society & Canadian Information Processing Society sign MOU on international accreditation for ICT professionals
Philip Argy, President, ACS, explains “ICT has never been of greater importance to our national and international economy. It also has a profound impact on social and community outcomes. Today’s MOU is a crucial step towards ICT attaining its rightful status within the global community, alongside other high impact professions and industries such as doctors, lawyers and accountants. The MOU recognises the combined effort it will take to achieve the IFIP’s objective to internationalise IT professional status. “The ICT sector both in Australia and internationally must develop universal standards of professionalism for ICT workers, as this is how we mitigate risk and assure investors of our industry’s quality. This will provide measurable, objective standards and credentials that employers can look for to ensure that individuals within our industry are up to scratch and that they are trustworthy,” said Mr Argy. Bob Hart, Professional Standards and Development Manager, ACS said: “The signing of the first MOU to obtain international accreditation for ICT professionals has great significance for the global ICT community and their employers. ICT professionals are shaping our global future. This community of workers has a profound and growing impact on business reputation and the business bottom line, and employers are recognising the value of a standard by which to measure and govern the professional conduct of this community of workers. Being professional requires you to have a keen appreciation of the commercial, social and political context in which you do your work.” The principles of the MOU between the ACS, BCS & CIPS include the following: • Joint or cooperative programs and projects of mutual benefit, including visits and exchange of technical or other personnel; • Mutual cooperation relating to ACS, BCS, and CIPS professional qualifications and professional development products and services; • Organizations of and participation in conferences, symposia, courses, workshops, exhibitions, corporate events and other joint meetings of mutual interest; • Exchange of technical data and information relating to ACS, BCS, and CIPS professional qualifications and professional development products and services; • Operation of joint training/education programs to raise competency of practitioners working in IT; and • Other forms of co-operation as agreed by the Parties, including meetings (face-to-face or electronic) between the three Parties on a regular basis. “The closer ties between our professional associations will benefit all IT practitioners on a professional level,” said CIPS President John Boufford I.S.P. “IT practitioners will have greater access to IT programs, products and services on a global scale. The closer ties will also enable our organizations to work together on a unified front to address IT issues affecting our society today.” David Clarke, BCS chief executive, says: “Cementing closer ties with both these organisations underlines the BCS’s commitment to raising awareness of the need for well-qualified and capable information technology professionals for the benefit of not only the UK IT industry, but also for information technology industries around the world.” The MOU concentrates its initial focus on the work necessary to implement the recommendations of the IFIP task force, which include the following: • Mutual equivalency agreements on professional membership; • Mutual accreditation of the certification processes in place in the three countries; • Tri-lateral agreements on accredited educational programs; • Tri-lateral agreements on cross-border mobility; • Three way exploration and agreement on the scope of the profession; • Three way exploration and agreement of skills frameworks and bodies of knowledge for IT practitioners up to and including certified professionals; and • Assistance and encouragement to other national bodies which are also interested in being included in this MOU. Dennis Furini, CEO, ACS, explains “The ACS’s involvement in the MOU is another example of our continuing effort to raise the level of professionalism for Australia’s ICT professionals. In September last year, the ACS launched the Computer Professional Education Program (CPEP), which aims at enhancing professional practice, by providing high level post-graduate education for professionals with more than 18 months working experience. “The ACS has also submitted an application for a professional’s scheme under the Professional Standards Act and is also a member of the Australian Council of Professions, which advances and promotes professionalism for the benefit of the community. We look forward to developing and implementing further professionalism initiatives locally and globally through the MOU with BCS and CIPS.” - ends – Media information: Fleur Brown (02) 9270 0241 or mobile: 0419 270 863 About the ACS: The ACS (Australian Computer Society) is the recognised professional association for those working in Information and Communications Technology, seeking to raise the standing of ICT professionals and represent their views to government, industry and the community. A member of the Australian Council of Professions, the ACS is the guardian of professional ethics and standards in the ICT sector, committed to ensuring the beneficial use of ICT for all Australians. It provides both members and non-members with opportunities for professional education, networking and certification, as well as enabling them to contribute to the development of their profession. Visit www.acs.org.au for more. About the ACS Foundation: An initiative of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) the ACS Foundation was established in August 2001 to encourage both private and public sponsorship of IT scholarships, higher education and research projects. The ACS Foundation receives funding from more than 150 sponsors – including ICT companies, industry associations, Government bodies, individuals and the ACS itself. Since the ACS Foundation’s inception, it has raised over $7.6 million in cash and in-kind sponsorship for scholarships and research, awarding more than 550 scholarships to high achievers and people who are disadvantaged in some way. |
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