Monday, 17 September 2007 - Microsoft has pledged support and resources towards a campaign led by the UNESCO backed International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP) to promote an international standard among IT practitioners. This will seek to create a globally recognised accreditation, provisionally named the International IT Professional (IITP).

The designation would help raise the level of professionalism in ICT and particularly assist practitioners move between countries for work and help employers confidently recruit from outside their own national borders.

Speaking about Microsoft’s decision to support the International Professional Practice Programme (I3P), which is an initiative created by a task force inside IFIP, Director of Content, Community and Evangelism, Michael Alcock, says: “Software vendors care deeply about increased recognition and rewards for the ICT professional. Microsoft has already committed to sharing its research into the IT profession and other resources with the IFIP Task Force.”

The announcement was made at the 2007 IFIP General Assembly in Addis Ababa. The IITP designation will be awarded by accredited professional associations under a rigorous international program which also aims to create mobility for ICT professionals looking to work in different countries.

Chair of the task force charged with introducing the I3P initiative and British Computer Society’s immediate past president, Charles Hughes, says: “In the modern world, the ICT industry is a global business with many international organizations requiring increasing mobility among individual members of the ICT workforce. Our industry needs a strong profession and we have a unique opportunity to build a business-enhancing and respected profession. Such programmes have already progressed significantly in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom and other countries. By working together we can make a real difference to the capability and image of our industry and at the same time directly help developing countries.”

ACS President, Philip Argy, says: “This significant international effort promotes both the value and the values of professionalism at a time when many have only begun to realise that professionalism is in fact the best risk mitigation strategy for any project”.

“The I3P Program seeks to create one global ICT profession,” added ACS Professional Standards and Development Manager, Bob Hart. “Companies will be able to hire ICT individuals outside their own countries with an assurance that those they hire possess the necessary education and experience to practise in the field.”

Mr Hart has been seconded from the ACS as Program Manager of the International Professional Practice Program, I3P. “Whilst we will suffer a loss of Bob’s time, it is a sacrifice the ACS is prepared to make in the interests of this very important initiative, which has universal support from ACS members”, added Mr Argy.

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I3P is a global initiative to promote vigorously IT professionalism worldwide. Launched by IFIP (a consultative arm of UNESCO) in November, 2006, its leading members are drawn from Australia, Canada, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, with representatives from the United States and the European Union also participating. Organizations interested in contributing resources or sponsorship for the I3P program contact Roger Hart, IFIP Task Force Vice-Chair and CIPS Director, at: rhart@cips.ca

About IFIP
IFIP (International Federation for Information Processing) is a United Nations-founded organization that has more than 85 member or affiliated IT associations composed of over 800,000 influencers and individuals world-wide. For more information, visit: www.ifip.org

About the ACS
The ACS (Australian Computer Society) is the recognised professional association for those working in ICT, seeking to raise the standing of ICT professionals and represent their views to government, industry and the community. It provides opportunities for professional education, networking and certification, as well as enabling ICT professionals to contribute to the development of their profession. Visit www.acs.org.au for more.

About the BCS
The British Computer Society (BCS) is the Chartered industry body for IT professionals, the Chartered Engineering Institution for Information Technology and a Chartered Science Institution. With a rapidly growing membership, BCS is playing an increasingly pivotal role in leading the development and implementation of world class standards for the IT profession through innovative products, services and support. Through its specific “Professionalism in IT” programme, BCS is leading and building IT professionalism to levels which are currently only seen in more established professions such as architecture and accountancy but which will increasingly become the de facto standards for IT professionals. Visit http://www.bcs.org for more information.

About CIPS
CIPS, with its head office in Mississauga, Ontario, is the Industry-Canada chartered professional association for Information Technology (IT) practitioners in Canada. Founded in 1958, CIPS is a non-profit organization, and a co-founder of the United Nations-founded IFIP that represents IT professionals http://www.cips.ca/about/local/default.asp?load=linkson issues affecting the IT industry and profession. CIPS offers the only professional IT designation, I.S.P., that is recognized by law* in Canada. For more information, visit: www.cips.ca

About CSSA
Founded in 1957, Computer Society of South Africa (CSSA) represents the interests of ICT Professionals at all levels, and is committed to promoting professionalism amongst its members. Other primary goals include representing member interests at government level. Visit: www.cssa.org.za/