April 27, 1999
(Education)

Accreditation of information technology programs key focus for government and industry

Operation ONLINE Inc., the Department of Education, and the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) today signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) which will see the implementation of a process for the accreditation of information technology (IT) programs being offered through provincial educational institutions.

The Department of Education has taken the lead role in the implementation and administration of the overall accreditation project and has established the Provincial Education and Training Advisory Committee (PETAC) to provide advice on the project. PETAC membership includes the Department of Education, Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC), Operation ONLINE, CIPS, the Newfoundland Association of Technical Industries (NATI), educational institutions and the IT business and industry sector. Human Resources Development Canada has contributed $150,000 for the first phase of this project through the Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA).

Program accreditation is a formal industry-driven auditing process for the assessment of IT related training programs against a specific set of core and technical skills standards. It provides a professional judgement about the quality of the educational programs offered by the training agencies and encourages continuous improvement to meet the rapid changes in the IT industry sector.

The objectives of accreditation include: identification of those IT programs meeting industry standards; assurance of curriculum improvements; updating of training facilities; availability of qualified staff; provision of career mobility; gaining employment satisfaction and academic transferability. Meeting these objectives bring a greater level of accountability to educational agencies and as a result, industry will no doubt have more confidence in hiring graduates from accredited programs.

In signing the Memorandum of Agreement, Education Minister Judy Foote said: "Today's signing is another example of our government's commitment and support of partnership projects between government and industry. Accreditation will create a long-term economic development benefit to the province providing a pool of highly trained individuals which will promote and contribute to the growth of the vibrant IT industry sector. The backbone of the IT industry is a highly trained workforce."

CIPS National President, Kewal Dhariwal, I.S.P., was on hand for the signing and said: "The Canadian Information Processing Society is pleased to be involved with this project and through our local Viking Chapter we have been extensively involved in alot of the preparatory work associated with this announcement today. We see this initiative as a positive step towards the development of the IT professional and the industry in general."

Through its involvement in the accreditation process, Operation ONLINE reaffirms its commitment to building human resources, one component of its mandate is to grow the province's IT sector. Sam Walters, Chairman of Operation ONLINE Inc. added: "The signing of this MOA today and the formation of the provincial advisory committee for the accreditation of our IT programs is one further step in advancing our IT sector, allowing it to grow locally and compete both nationally and internationally. Operation ONLINE is pleased to be part of this process and supports the efforts of the Department of Education and CIPS to improve the quality of our IT programs."

HRDC continues to be a significant contributor to several meaningful IT related projects. "Human Resources Development Canada is pleased to be involved in this initiative under the Labour Market Development Agreement. We are a strong supporter of the information technology sector in our province and are very pleased with the role that Operation ONLINE has played in fostering growth in our IT industry," said Randy Williams, Director, Avalon District HRDC. "Today's memorandum of agreement between the Department of Education, Operation ONLINE and CIPS is a perfect example of the importance of partnering in human resource development."

Newfoundland and Labrador was one of the first provinces to develop a comprehensive profile of its IT sector and the first to develop a comprehensive industry definition. It is now poised to be one of the first to implement an accreditation process that will see our educational institutions engage in a comprehensive self assessment and review process to evaluate and improve the quality of IT programs. In the coming months occupational standards will be developed and formal accreditation of institutions will commence.

The Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA) is a co-managed agreement between the federal and provincial governments, administered by Human Resources Development Canada and Human Resources and Employment. The LMDA partners work closely with individuals, communities and other stakeholders to help clients meet measurable and achievable educational, employment and economical development goals. In addition, the LMDA partners work together in the design and management of Canada's employment benefits and support measures, ensuring they complement Newfoundland and Labrador's labour market programs and services.

For more information contact:

Lori Churchill
Operation ONLINE Inc.
Tel: (709) 729-4230

Mylene Sayo
CIPS National Office
Tel: (416) 861-2477

Nancy Healey
Department of Education
Tel: (709) 729-0048

Bonnie Pope
Human Resources Development Canada
Tel: (709) 772-5346

1999 04 27                                     4:05 p.m.