The International Professional Practice Partnership (IP3) announced today that the Australian Computer Society (ACS) had become the first professional body to be accredited to award the new International IT Professional (IITP) certification. The accreditation covers the members holding the ACS Computer Professional (CP) status.
IP3 is a programme of the International Federation for Information Processing (IFIP), a non-governmental, non-profit umbrella organisation created under the auspices of UNESCO for national societies working in the field of information processing.
IITP is the first international certification of ICT professionals under the International Professional Practice Partnership (IP3) and is awarded to professionals who have obtained an approved qualification from an accredited body, usually the IFIP Member Society in the region.
A panel of senior IP3 assessors, together with an independent assessor, visited ACS in July. The accreditation process included meetings with senior management of the society, as well as stakeholders and members of ACS professional division. The panel examined the core body of knowledge and competencies and skills underlying the Professional Status; the requirements for renewal of the qualification, including continuing professional development; implementation of the code of ethics; and the capability of the organisation to manage a certification scheme, including quality assurance, validation of information and governance.
The award was made to ACS at the World Computer Congress by Basie von Solms, IFIP President.
On accepting the award on behalf of ACS, Kim Denham, CEO, remarked: "This kind of international certification will help lift the standard and quality of Australia's ICT sector and hopefully bring it closer to establishing the same prestige and type of accreditation to other established professions such as accountancy and law. It represents a great step forward for the ICT Industry."
ACS President Kumar Parakala said he is extremely pleased that the ACS Computer Professional Programme has received international accreditation through IP3. "Accrediting the CP programme demonstrates the forward movement of ICT, particularly in defining its global standards of professionalism, and what it means for professionals competing in an increasingly global market," he added.
Charles Hughes, Chairman of IP3, added his congratulations to ACS on being the first society to be accredited to IITP. "Awarding ACS makes IITP legitimate, and is the culmination of almost two years of work by the IP3 Task Force," he remarked.
IITP is the first and "gold' standard qualification made available through IP3. The partnership is planning to develop further qualifications, including one for IT technologists, as well as IT management. IP3 also hopes to make learning materials available to help aspiring societies provide the necessary skills and knowledge to their members.
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