The National Computer Board (NCB), together with the Singapore Computer Society (SCS), officially launched the National IT Skills Certification Programme today. Endorsed by the NCB and managed by the SCS, the Programme ...
Singapore, 26 November 1998 | For Immediate Release
The National Computer Board (NCB), together with the Singapore Computer Society (SCS), officially launched the National IT Skills Certification Programme today. Endorsed by the NCB and managed by the SCS, the Programme aims to promote the development of IT skills and professional knowledge. The Programme will also help to establish quality standards in IT skills and give recognition to IT professionals and users in Singapore.
The Programme comprises three branches: the General Branch, the Affiliate Branch, and the Professional Branch. The General Branch caters to the recognition of IT end-users who possess specific skills in the use of computer hardware and software while the Affiliate Branch caters to the recognition of specific IT skills that are certified by other professional bodies to which the SCS is affiliated. The Professional Branch caters to the recognition of IT professionals who possess specific skill sets.
The Professional Branch will kick off with the IT Project Management certification. IT professionals with capabilities in project management will receive official endorsement of their skills to enhance their marketability and credibility. Upon satisfying the requirements, IT professionals will be awarded the title of either "Certified IT Project Manager (CITPM)" or "Certified IT Project Manager, Senior (CITPM, Senior)". The validity of the certification is 5 years and certified project managers will need to seek re-certification after 5 years. The certification is accredited by both the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Said Stephen Yeo, Chief Executive, NCB and Chairman, Board of Governors of the National IT Skills Certification Board, "The National IT Skills Certification Programme provides IT professionals with the opportunity to benchmark their IT skills against internationally recognised standards. Through certification, we ensure that IT professionals in Singapore stay abreast of cutting-edge technology and IT concepts."
Impact on the IT Industry
With the IT Project Management certification in place, there will be a systematic way to train IT professionals to be project managers. Certification will also provide the necessary motivation for IT professionals to upgrade and continually retrain. This will provide the IT industry with a critical mass of certified project managers who posses a good blend of interpersonal skills, business acumen and technology expertise. The availability of such qualified IT professionals will help Singapore maintain its leadership in IT project management and better prepare Singapore for the knowledge-based economy of the 21st century.
Said Mr Alex Siow, President, SCS, "Those who are certified will receive recognition like their counterparts in the legal, medical and engineering professions. We plan to provide a standard benchmark for all critical IT skills, first at the national level, next at the regional level and in future, globally."
Benefits to Companies
To companies and employers, the IT Project Management certification provides an avenue to monitor the skills and knowledge of its employees. It also provides employers with a qualitative mechanism to assess a candidate's project management skills during the recruitment process. To date, 25 organisations have submitted 170 nomination packages during the pilot certification phase.
Application Procedures
Certification is open twice a year, in May and November. Candidates are required to submit a nomination package (consisting of an application form, self-assessment report, and project report) and supporting documents to the Certification Secretariat for assessment. Candidates also need to pay fees consisting of:
a) registration fee of $200 (member of SCS) and $350 (non-member) and
b) certification fee of $250 (member of SCS) and $350 (non-member).
The certification cycle will take three months from the time of application to the time candidates are notified of the results.
A Board of Governors chaired by the Chief Executive of the NCB has been established to oversee the National IT Skills Certification Programme. Leading IT professionals are appointed to a Board of Assessors to carry out the role of assessing competencies of candidates seeking certification.
For more information regarding certification, please contact Ms Polly Ng of SCS at tel: 3773011 or email at Polly.Ng@scs.org.sg.
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