MEDIA RELEASE

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ACS to Accredit Leading Industry-Based Qualifications

Lotus, Microsoft and Novell Sign Agreements on Industry Accreditation

Tuesday 7 April 1998 - The Australian Computer Society (ACS) will offer Associate membership to IT practitioners who have successfully completed leading industry qualifications from Lotus, Microsoft and Novell.

ACS President, Prins Ralston, said the announcement, which follows negotiations between the Society and three of the world’s largest software vendors, had implications for a significant number of practitioners operating in the Australian IT industry.

"Not only does this agreement enable people holding these industry-based qualifications to raise their status by becoming Associates of the ACS, but they also gain access to the many benefits of ACS membership.

"We believe it is in the interests of industry and the wider community for all IT practitioners to be skilled to the relevant industry standard, accredited by the ACS in its role as the Professional Society for IT practitioners, and thereby subject such practitioners to a Code of Ethics and Code of Practice, as well as being provided with opportunities for further professional development," he said.

ACS Accreditation for Industry’s Most Recognised Qualifications

The qualifications to be accepted for accreditation are Novell’s Certified NetWare Engineer (CNE), the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), MCSE+Internet and Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD), and the Lotus Certified Professional (CLP) programs.

People holding these certifications can immediately qualify for grading as Provisional Associates of the ACS, with full grade of Associate granted once they have at least two years relevant industry experience.

Director of the ACS Membership Board, Gerry Maynard, said Associates would to encouraged to further upgrade their status within the Society by undertaking additional education.

"For those people who want to upgrade to full Professional Member, the ACS provides a clear path of further study to enable Associates to attain the Core Body of Knowledge required to be eligible for the Professional grade of Membership," Mr Maynard said.

Microsoft Training and Certification Program Manager, Sarah Guest, said, "ACS accreditation is an additional acknowledgment of the high standard of technical competence that has been attained by Microsoft Certified Professionals. The ability to join the ACS as an Associate is an important addition to the current benefits our MCSE, MCSE+Internet and MCSD candidates receive."

Novell’s Area Education Manager, Patricia Crawford, welcomed the accreditation as recognition of the high quality industry-based education provided by Novell.

"This is a great opportunity for people who have invested in their career as CNEs to become members of the ACS and adds further value to the worldwide recognition these qualifications offer our graduates," she said.

Graeme Johnston, Regional Manager of Lotus Education, said the ACS accreditation further affirmed their long-standing relationship with the Society, which had grown through successful moves to link the Certified Lotus Professional (CLP) scheme with the ACS Practising Computer Professional (PCP) program.

"As a leading provider of training content, we work closely with our Lotus Authorised Education Centres to both anticipate and respond to technology trends and changing demands for technical skills.

This endorsement by the ACS of our training program provides valuable recognition for CLPs as well as opening the door for them to gain entry to the Society," he said.

Benefits of ACS Membership

The ACS offers its members a broad range of activities including conferences, seminars, networking and professional development sessions, special interest groups, a comprehensive certification program, mentor schemes for young practitioners and more.

The Society also provides discounts on services such as professional indemnity and other insurances, personal loans, broking services, Internet access, travel and accommodation, among others.

New Testing and Training Discounts for ACS Members

A further benefit from the new agreements entitles ACS members who sit for recognised industry-based qualifications to discounts on the cost of the Certification examinations required for their accreditation.

Microsoft, Novell and Lotus will offer ACS members a 10 per cent reduction on the cost of sitting certification examinations through independent testing house, Sylvan.

In addition, many authorised training centres representing these three vendors will offer ACS members additional discounts on their scheduled courses.

Further discounts on a wide range of training courses are available from Australia’s premier national training organisation, Com Tech Education Services, which is offering ACS members 10 per cent off the price of all scheduled courses.

This offer is also unaffected by any existing arrangements so if an ACS member works at an organisation which already receives a discount from Com Tech Education Services, they will still receive an extra 10 per cent off.

For more information about ACS membership or member benefits, call 1800 626 029, (02) 9299 3666 or email membership@acslink.net.au

This media release is available on the ACS Web site at http://www.acs.org.au/news/certify.html

ENDS

Media Enquiries:

Prins Ralston, ACS President, Tel: (0411) 755 069, Email: p_ralston@ntu.edu.au

Gerry Maynard, Director, ACS Membership Board, Tel: (03) 9802 7676, Email: gbmaynard@acslink.aone.net.au

Caroline New, Caroline New PR, Tel: (02) 9980 8060 or (0411) 889 456, Email: cnew@acslink.net.au