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The Impact of IT Professionalism on the European Economy
An IT Profession Consultation
Carm Cachia, eSkills Malta Foundation
An IT Profession Consultation
A Local Perspective
“In order for ICT remains an enabler for economic success, a country needs to establish and mature the ICT as a profession and develop a professional structure”
Council of European Professional Informatics Societies (CEPIS), 2012
An IT Profession Survey – a Local Perspective
Quick Local Snapshot
No mandatory or voluntary ICT Regulation;
No ICT Regulatory Body;
University and MCAST are self accrediting;
Other Academic and Tertiary Courses accredited though NCFHE for EQF Equivalency;
Industry Certifications highly recognised by local Industry;
ICT Apprenticeships offered by MCAST only for Diplomas and Placements for Degrees;
University Placements are not an integral part of the Degree but students are encouraged to find a summer placement;
An IT Profession Consultation – a Local Perspective
Stakeholders currently influencing the IT Profession
COMPANIES WITH AN IT INFRASTRUCTURE
UNIVERSITY OF MALTAMCAST
GOVERNMENT THROUGH MINISTRY
GAMING AND BETTING COMPANIES
(Approx. 150)
ICT COMPANIES(Approx.150)
TRAINING PROVIDERS
PROFESSIONAL INSTITUTIONS
OTHER ACADEMIC UNIVESITIES AND COLLEGES (8-10)
Middlesex UniversityUniversity of LondonHertfordshire UniversityDerby UniversityUniversity of LeicesterNCC
MicrosoftCiscoOracleVmwareRedHatHPSunIBM
BCS MaltaISACA Malta ChapterCSMIMIS MaltaIAP
PRINCE2PMIISEBCISACISMITILLPI LinuxCompTIA
ESKILLS MALTA FOUNDATION
ICTCONSUMERS
An IT Profession Survey – a Local PerspectivePast work done in the subject area in Malta (1)
A Study and a Paper was done by the then eSkills Alliance on the possibility of setting up an ICT professional Body. Participants who came from various stakeholder groups within the eSkills Alliance were of differing opinions, 6 were against while 19 were in favour;
The Study considered definitions of an ICT Professional from leading ICT professional institutions, and the following qualities stood out:
Practitioner Follows risk management guidelines
Foundation/specialised Body of Knowledge Accountability
Appropriate Qualifications Demonstrated potential leadership
Undergoes continuous development Demonstrated project management skills
Agree to a code of ethics/conduct Sound communication skills
Broad set of skills Experience
An IT Profession Survey – a local perspectivePast work done on the subject area in Malta (2)
The Paper stated that the Code of Ethics must be the central focal point to the practice of the ICT Profession;
The Paper also proposed a Qualification-based method (e.g. EQF/MQF) mapped to a competency framework to recognise the competence and professional experience of an IT Professional;
It proposed the continuous development of the ICT professional through various methods;
AND choosing the right option in forming the ICT Professional Body, i.e. legal, voluntary, leave as is, etc.
An IT Profession Survey – Public Consultation
Main Objectives of the Survey
The Survey will seek to get feedback on:
the definition of the ICT Professional for Malta within the European and international context;
the drafting an ICT Code of Ethics for Malta or adopting a European Ethical Guidelines;
the use of the e-Competence Framework (e-CF) and Foundational ICT Body of Knowledge (BOK);
adopting a life-long learning concept for ICT professionals;
the setting up an ICT Professional body, or similar, to professionalise the practice;
the adoption of the European Framework for IT Professionalism, which in fact include all above.
The IT Profession Survey – a Local Perspective
Stakeholders of the Proposed Consultation
Since this initiative covers the relationship that an IT professional has with society, with clients, with employers, and with other members of the profession, then it would be expected that the public consultation is directed and expected to receive feedback from the following stakeholders:
ICT Professionals; The then Current ICT Students; ICT Graduates; ICT Industry and ICT-using Industry; ICT Colleges and Universities; ICT Training organisations;
Local ICT professional institutions; Chamber of Commerce and other similar
chambers; Chambers and institutions of other Professions; Citizen.
This Consultation is being proposed to be done online in the 2nd half of 2017 and will run for 4 to 6 weeks
The IT Profession Survey – a Local Perspective
Consultation on Options
Professionalise the IT Profession
Set up an IT Professional
Body
European Ethical Guidelines
Register of IT Practitioners
Leave as is but Promote
Foundational ICT Body of Knowledge
e-Competence Framework
Education and Training
European Framework for IT Professionalism
The IT Profession Survey – a Local Perspective
Other Areas of the Consultation in the Survey
Body form, government? Professional institution?
Voluntary?
Backed by legal framework?
Structure of its boards?
Membership structure?
Criteria for Membership?
Should membership map to a competence framework?
Guidance on ethics?
How to ensure continuous development?
Should it be active in standards?
An IT Profession Survey – a Local Perspective
After the Survey
The Outcome will be discussed internally by the Foundation and a way forward mapped;
The outcome and way forward will also be communicated and possibly discussed with the stakeholders;
The way forward may also be influenced by the plans of the European IT Professionalism Framework;
We would welcome help and consider best practices from our European counterparts;
This initiative cannot be seen as a silo and is part of a chain of events for the development and expansion of the Digital Economy;
The eSkills Malta Foundation looks very much forward to the development of the IT Profession in Malta and Europe, we are all in this together with the same common aim.