The Computer Society of South Africa focuses its
activities, events and publications in five primary
areas:
-
Education and training to elevate
the level of ICT capability in South Africa.
-
Professional development and
advancement. Employers of CSSA members know that
the membership vetting process is thorough and
responsible.
-
Community development, in terms of
projects, that enhances the standards and levels
of ICT for the greater good of the country.
-
Transformation: to develop the ICT
sector that it is demographically representative
of the country. We are very proud to be one of the
founder organizations of the ICT Empowerment
charter, and are members of the Task Team which
forms the executive function of the Working group
-
ICT Policy representing industry
practitioners at Government level.
With over 3000 members throughout South Africa CSSA is widely
recognised as a professional body in South Africa for
ICT practitioners.
CSSA offers its members numerous
opportunities.
- Media Knowledge: Members get reduced
subscriptions to some of South Africa’s leading
IT publications resulting from our various
partnerships, including Brainstorm, ComputerWeek
Strategist, Computing SA, Convergence,
Intelligence, PC Format and others. Professional
Members and Fellows receive the Brainstorm
Magazine free, and are first choice for magazines
for which we have limited free circulation e.g.
Style in IT, limited to 1000 copies for members.
- Specialist Seminars and Workshops: Special
Interest Groups (SIG) are active in several areas
of ICT, including information security, business
and systems analysis, contractors and consultants,
project management, software and systems
development, computer-human interaction and
medical.
- Networking: Seminars, workshops and other
events provide opportunities for networking. New
in an organisation? Check to see if there are
other CSSA members working with you. Information
to share? CSSA Central Office will help you build
a SIG or have a one off event.
- Reduced entrance fees: to many ICT
exhibitions, seminars, conferences and workshops.
Special invitations to associated functions and
events.
- E-news letter monthly: a monthly
e-newsletter contains information about events,
projects and activities in the various chapters,
and ICT generally.
- Awards: active involvement in the popular
IT Personality of the Year, CIO and Project
Masters Awards.
- Career Advancement: other benefits for
member include career advancement; increasingly
companies recognise CSSA membership for their ICT
staff as a prerequisite for promotion and career
advancement.
- Code of Conduct: all members are obliged
to conform to a Code of Conduct, which assures
employers and clients alike of ethical behaviour
in your activities.
- International recognition: CSSA membership
grading and admission criteria are continuously
evaluated in accordance with international
practices and are maintained in line with these
requirements.
- Expert opinions: Relationships with other
international societies, e.g. IFIP mean that CSSA
has the access to best practices and top
international experts.
- Top expos and conferences: CSSA, together
with the Electronics Industry Federation, EIF, is
responsible for presenting Futurex, a leading ICT
exhibition and conference that raises all the
pertinent issues facing South Africa’s fast
moving ICT climate.
- Business Opportunities: Business
opportunities arising out of enquiries to the CSSA
are passed on to interested members who have
registered their capabilities on our database.
Recent enquiries include database creation,
software assessor, IT user advisory council, etc.
- You gain professional recognition: As a
member of the body that represents the IT
professional in South Africa. By using the
respected letters Associate Member – “AMCSSA”,
Full Member – “MCSSA”, Professional – “PCSSA”
and Fellow - “FCSSA” after your name.
- Affiliated Societies: CSSA has a
reciprocal membership arrangement with the SA
Institute of Electrical Engineers. We also have
close working relationships with the Black IT
Forum, the SA Communications Forum, the
Information Industries SA, the Electronics
Industry Federation, and the IT Association.
- Representation at Government and Industry
level: Established ties with Government –
Dept Trade and Industry, Dept of Communications,
Dept. Science and Technology, ISETT-SETA –offers
opportunities for our members to interact with
Government organisations and Industry as a whole.
Working closely with other NGO’s ensures a
strong voice on key issues. Current activities
include the ICT BEE Charter, an activity which
will have far reaching positive effects on the ICT
sector and economy as a whole.
- Education and Training: The Computer
Society provides training through the ICDL
Foundation (International Computer Driving
Licence). This successful project, initiated by
the CSSA, has resulted in over 70 000 students
receiving or working towards this internationally
recognised qualification, which equips its
students with proficiency in the most commonly
used software tools.
The Computer Society runs the Computer Olympiad,
which identifies and encourages programming talent
and entry into the profession.
Membership
Membership is open to anyone. However, applicants have
to agree to abide by the code of conduct, and are
graded according to their level of qualifications,
proficiency and experience.
Professional members
Admission to the grade of Professional member is
normally only available to existing members of the
CSSA who have been a member in good standing for at
least three years.
Under exceptional circumstances a chapter may
motivate that an individual be admitted directly as a
Professional member of the Society.
Such Chapter motivated cases will be considered
by the Membership Committee which may refrain from
making a recommendation and refer the application to
the Executive Council.
Fellows
Fellowships are awarded to persons who have made
a significant contribution to the ICT Industry,
including service to the Computer Society. Their
appointment is approved by a committee of Past
Presidents. |
