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PROMOTION OF

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PROMOTION OF PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONOF INFORMAION TECHNOLOGY in HONG KONG

Stephen Lau

Hong Kong Computer Society

January 2014

Hk Computer Society (HKCS)

• Founded in 1970, the Hong Kong Computer Society (HKCS), with over 9,000 members, is a well-recognised non-profit organisation focused on developing Hong Kong's Information Technology (IT) profession and industry. profession and industry.

• Members hail from a broad spectrum of Hong Kong's IT community, from corporations to like-minded individuals, all coming together to raise the profile and standards of our profession and industry.

HKCS Core Values

1. Talent Cultivation & Professional

Development

2. Career Advancement

3. Job Assistance Programme3. Job Assistance Programme

4. Networking / Socialising Opportunities &

Exclusive Benefits

5. Community Engagement

Special Interest Group (SIG)

BISIG

Business

Intelligence SIG

CCSIG

Cloud

Computing SIG

EASIG

Enterprise

Architecture

SIGISSIG

Information

Security SIG

MoSIG

Mobility SIG

QMSIG

Quality

Management

SMSIG

Social Media

SIG

Industry Advisors•Financial Services

•Logistics & Transport

•Retail & Hospitality

•Health Care

Computing SIG Security SIG Management SIG

DESIG

Digital Entrainment

SIG

SESIG

Software Engineering

SIG

SMSIG

Service Management

SIG

ComSIG

Communicatio-ns SIG

Hong Kong Institute of Professional

Certification (HKITPC)• Established in 2007

• Objectives : CPIT to become a recognized professional qualification

and IT Professionals to be recognized by ALL as and IT Professionals to be recognized by ALL as Professionals

• Developing and administering an IT certification

system

• Establishing the self-regulatory framework

• Raising the standard of IT professionals

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CPIT Credentials

• Objectives:

• Providing a yardstick to IT Organizations for the

recruitment and career advancement of their IT staff

• Reinforcing the quality standard for service providers

in contract bidding and implementationin contract bidding and implementation

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Benefits to IT Organizations

• Raising the standard of IT professionals recruitment

• Assurance of IT staff’s professional competency

• Strengthening IT resource pool and increasing

competitivenesscompetitiveness

• Continuous update and upgrade on IT staff’s

knowledge through recertification

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Benefits to Individuals

• Recognition of IT professional status

• Value-add to personal profile

• Continuous upgrade and update on IT knowledge

and competencyand competency

• Distinct and structural roadmap for professional

development and career advancement

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Certified Professionals IT

(CPIT TITLES)

• CPIT (PD, SA, QAM) at Master Level

Project Director

Systems Architect

Quality Assurance Manager

• CPIT(APM, InfoSec, BA) at Practitioner Level

Associate Project Manager

Information Security Officer

Business Analyst

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Master Level - Assessment Process

• Master Level Assessment Process with Interview– Essay Format

• English, Traditional Chinese or Simplified Chinese

• About 3000 words

• Assessors:– 2 Assessors

Language: English, Cantonese or Putonghua (selected by the – Language: English, Cantonese or Putonghua (selected by the

Applicant)

– Contents: Presentation of work “cases” on submitted projects

(15 – 20mins)

– Q&A (30 – 45mins)

• Submission of Additional Documents

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Practitioner Level - Examination

Process

• Examination-based

– 120 multiple-choice questions

– Questions are correlated with the key

competency requirements for the given title

– Three levels of difficulty (low, medium and high)

with distribution (20%, 60% and 20%)with distribution (20%, 60% and 20%)

– Training available from HKPC & VTC

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Hong Kong Information Technology Industry

3 X 7 Generic Job Titles Matrix

Job Category

Competency Level

Software

Engineering

/Software

Development

Software

Quality

Assurance

Project

Management

(IT)

IT Architecture

Service

Management

and Operation

Information

SecurityMultimedia

Master

Software

Engineering

Manager

Software Quality

Assurance

Manager

CPIT(QAM)

IT Project Director

CPIT(PD)

IT Architect

Manager

CPIT(SA)

Service Operation

Manager

Information

Security Manager

Multimedia

Content Manager

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CPIT(QAM)

SpecialistSenior Software

Engineer

Software Quality

Assurance

Specialist

IT Project

Manager

Senior IT

Architect

System Operation

Specialist

Information

Security

Specialist

Multimedia

Content Specialist

Practitioner

Software

EngineerSoftware Quality

Assurance

Professional

Assistant

Manager, IT

Projects

CPIT(APM)

IT Architect

CPIT(BA)

System Operation

Officer

Information

Security Officer

CPIT(InfoSec)

Multimedia

Content

Developer

Challenges

• Pioneering

• HKCS is a body of volunteers

• Government funding is project based

• Recurrent funding needed • Recurrent funding needed

• 7x3 titles

• Value Recognition

• Sustainability

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PSDAS - Promotion Project Overview

• Uplift and align the professional standards of target

groups by HK CPIT certification scheme

• Promote Qualifications Framework (QF) through

certified titles

• Working towards recognition and support of

certification credentials under CEPA III agreementcertification credentials under CEPA III agreement

• Focus on 3 on-demand professional disciplines

• Project Director (Master)

• Systems Architect (Master)

• Business Analyst (Practitioner)

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Promotion Strategy

• Increasing the level of awareness and

recognition of CPIT

• Increasing/extending CPIT membership

• Reinforcing organization commitment to • Reinforcing organization commitment to

and endorsement of CPIT

• Encouraging CPIT applications from IT

professionals

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Promotion Strategy

• Increasing the level of awareness and

recognition of CPIT

• Annual CPIT awards presentation in HKCS

Gala Dinner

• Announcement of CPIT certified professionals

in HKCS websites and social networks

• HKCS CIO Board Survey

• Site visits to major IT organizations

• Conducting annual CPIT Forum

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Promotion Strategy

• Increasing/extending CPIT membership

• Extending CPIT eligibility through recognition of

international certification bodies

• Promoting CPIT Training / Cert Prep Courses• Promoting CPIT Training / Cert Prep Courses

• Alignment with local academic institutions’

curriculum

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Recognising internatio nal

certificates

• PMP of PMI with adequate IT project

management experience

• ITIL service management intermediate

modules certification with adequate modules certification with adequate

service management experience

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Promotion Strategy

• Reinforcing organization commitment to

and endorsement of CPIT

• Including CPIT credentials as recruitment

preferences

Including CPIT as a preferred requirement in • Including CPIT as a preferred requirement in

tender specifications

• Preannouncing the inclusion of CPIT in tender

weighting systems

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Promotion Strategy

• Encouraging CPIT applications from IT

professionals

• IT Organizations to consider developing in-

company incentive awards for CPIT successful

applicationsapplications

• IT Organizations to consider sponsoring or

reimbursing CPIT Training fees and/or Cert fees

• CPIT Alumni and networking events

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PSDAS Project Team

Steering Committee

(Stephen Lau, Edith Mok)

Project Owner

(Stephen Lau)Project Champion

Deputy Project Champion

(Patrick Wong, Dennis Yeung)

Project Director

(Danny Chung)

Promotion Strategy

Taskforce

(Dennis Yeung,

YB Yeung)

Site Visit Taskforce

(Raymond Yip)

Press &

Communication

Taskforce

(Rossana Ho)

Seminar & Forum

Taskforce

(Dennis Lee)

Education &

Training Taskforce

(Leo Tong,

William Kwan)

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Essential for

Sustained Success

Corporate support

Government support

Individual support

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ICT Professional

Development and Recognition

Office of the Government Chief Information OfficerOffice of the Government Chief Information Officer

� Business and community have been increasingly reliant on

robust and secure ICT infrastructure and services

� We need a competent and accountable ICT professional

workforce and establish ICT as a profession in Hong Kong that is

recognised and valued

Background

� A well-accepted ICT professional recognition framework will:

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Enhance the overall

quality and

competitiveness of

the ICT professionals

Fortify confidence on

the ICT profession

and raise the ICT

professional profile

of Hong Kong

Benefit all

stakeholders on the

use of ICT as a

powerful impetus for

economic and social

advancement

Current Issue

We have established the

Qualifications Framework

(QF) and developed the

Specification of

But we lack a unified

ICT professional

recognition mechanism

in Hong Kong that is

Various local and

international

professional bodies

have offered different

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Specification of

Competency Standards

(SCS) for the Hong Kong

ICT industry

in Hong Kong that is

widely accepted by the

industry and

community

have offered different

ICT professional

qualification schemes

Objectives of the Framework

Raise the ICT professional profile of Hong Kong

Enhance the quality of ICT human resources and professional services

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Attract more young people to join the ICT profession

Facilitate professional career development

Advance Hong Kong’s position as a leading knowledge-based society

Set up in

November 2012

under the Digital

21 Strategy

Advisory

Led by Professor Roland Chin

Comprises representatives from

Academia

ICT Professional Bodies

Task Force on ICT Professional Development and

Recognition

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Advisory

Committee

ICT Professional Bodies

Industry

Government

Objective: Examine the case of establishing a unified framework for ICT

professional recognition in Hong Kong with reference to

international practices and frameworks of other economies

� The Task Force has

� Critically examined

� the major ICT Skills Frameworks (such as SFIA and QF)

� the existing ICT Professional Recognition Schemes (such


Recognition

the existing ICT Professional Recognition Schemes (such

as CP, ITCP, CPIT, etc.)

� Discussed in great depth the various components

that are essential to an ICT professional

recognition framework; and based on that

� Proposed an initial conceptual framework

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ICT Skills Frameworks (the foundations and common references)

International

� Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA)

� Being used in over 100 countries including

Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United


Recognition

Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United

Kingdom, etc.

Local

� Qualifications Framework (QF)

� Specification of Competency Standards (SCS) was developed for the Hong Kong ICT

industry:

� Software Products and Software Services

� Communications and Information Services29

Professional Recognition Schemes (International)

� Examples – Australia - Certified Professional (CP)

Canada - Information Technology Certified

Professional (ITCP)

UK - Chartered IT Professional (CITP)


Recognition

� Multiple-pathways to attain the recognition

� Making reference to SFIA

� Cross-recognition [e.g. the Australian Computer Society (ACS)

and the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS)

recognise each other’s professional certifications] 30

Professional Recognition Schemes (Local)

� Certified Professional of IT (CPIT) - six CPIT titles, which are

aligned with the QF, have been launched

� Hong Kong Computer Society membership - over 9,000

members


Recognition

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members

� Hong Kong Institution of Engineers membership - around 3,000

members in Information Technology Division as at June 2012

� Registered Professional Engineer (R.P.E.) under the Engineers

Registration Ordinance (Cap. 409) - 46 R.P.E.s in Information

Discipline as at August 2013

� etc.

A Two-phased Approach

First phase:

� A voluntary-based framework to recognise the professional

qualification schemes of different professional organisations

� Recognition criteria:

professional standard and evaluation process of the concerned

The Proposed Framework – Phased

Implementation

� professional standard and evaluation process of the concerned scheme

� organisational capacity of the awarding professional organisation

� Make reference to the QF and SFIA for benchmarking and

international recognition

� For individual ICT practitioners, they can achieve the recognition by

attaining any of the recognised professional qualifications

� Multiple pathways

� Assured to have reached a level of professional standard that is

aligned and widely accepted by the industry 32

A Two-phased Approach

Second phase:

� After successful implementation and stable running of the framework

with a critical mass of recognition achieved, explore the feasibility of

introducing a statutory registration system for selective critical ICT

activities (e.g. information security related activities, design and

implementation of systems for e-banking, etc.)

The Proposed Framework – Phased

Implementation

implementation of systems for e-banking, etc.)

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Awarding Body

� A non-profit making body with the following key

components will be formed to manage and award the

recognition:

The Proposed Framework – Organisation and

Governance

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Governing Board

� Oversees the strategy,

management and execution

of the framework


Governance

Composition

- Academia

- Professional bodies

- Industry

- End-user organisations at CIO level

Assessment Committee

� Determines the recognition

criteria and conducts

assessment on applications

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- End-user organisations at CIO level

- Government

Composition

- Seasoned ICT experts from

> Academia

> Professional bodies

to be appointed by the Governing Board

Appeal Panel

� Handles appeals and

conducts re-

assessment on applications


Governance

Composition

- Seasoned ICT experts from

> Academia

> Professional bodies

- Legal expert


Secretariat

� The Government will provide administrative support for the

initial set-up of the framework

� In the longer run, the Secretariat function could be

outsourced to a non-profit making organisation for

performing day-to-day support functions

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(no members of the Governing Board or

Assessment Committee will be included)

Funding Model

� Government funding will be considered for the initial set-up

of the framework

� For sustainability in the long run, a substantive part of the

operating expenses should be supported by application /

membership fee


Governance

membership fee

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The Proposed Framework – Anticipated Benefits

� Provide an aligned and consistent yardstick for ensuring ICT practitioners’

competency and professionalism

� Remove confusion brought about by apparently similar and overlapping

professional qualifications

Practitioners

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professional qualifications

� Give practitioners a clearer direction on career and professional

development

� Prove their value to their (prospective) employers, thereby improving

their prospects of job selection or promotion

The Proposed Framework – Anticipated Benefits

� Identify and employ competent and qualified ICT practitioners and

service providers

� Achieve enhanced quality of deliverables and increased productivity,

contributing to business success and protection of investment

Employers

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contributing to business success and protection of investment

� Have clearer expectations and understanding of the roles and

responsibilities of ICT practitioners and service providers

� Fortify the community’s confidence on the ICT profession in managing

and implementing ICT-enabled services and systems

Community

Way Forward

• Include the proposed framework as part of the new Digital 21 Strategy

• Gauge the views of different stakeholder groups

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• Make suitable revisions to the framework and develop it in more details

• Target to launch it within 2014 after public / industry consultation

Backup Slides

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Certification Statistics 2006 – 2013

PD

27%

BA/SBA

24%

2006-Jul.2013 Total Certifications

SA

23%QAM

2%

APM

9%

InfoSec

15%

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The Proposed Framework – Challenges and

Mitigation Measures

Consider it as a barrier for entry into

the ICT profession

Challenges Perceived from

Practitioners

Possible Ways to Address

the Challenges

Multiple pathways will facilitate

practitioners to attain the recognition

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Reluctant to spend resource and effort

to attain the qualification if it is not

well recognised by the employers

Employers will be keen in employing

practitioners with the recognition when

they see the value

The Proposed Framework – Challenges and

Mitigation Measures

Impose constraint on staff

recruitment, resulting in an increase in

lead time for the recruitment process


Employers

Possible Ways to Address

the Challenges

Voluntary-based at the initial stage to

ensure that manpower supply and

demand will not be disrupted

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Incur a higher cost to attract the

qualified practitioners

Qualified practitioners can ensure better

quality and higher productivity, leading

to business success; it’s value-for-money

Consider it as a barrier to market access

to overseas service providers


Industry

Make reference to SFIA to facilitate

overseas practitioners to attain the

recognition

ENDEND

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