Developing Professionalism in IT.Who needs it?
Kevin Streater & Simon Rae
Centre for Professional Learning & Development,
Business Development Unit,
The Open University
Facts about The Open University
• The UK’s largest University• Over 263,000 students registered with us this year• 89% of part-time students study to further their career aims• 2009/2010 figures give approx. 13,000 students (FTEs) in IT-
related subject areas• The OU currently makes over 44,000 academic awards
annually• Since 1971 the OU has made over 778,000 academic awards,
including over 310,000 first degrees & over 47,000 higher degrees
• The OU has a 40-plus year partnership with the BBC and has co-produced programmes such as Coast, Seven Ages of Britain, The Virtual Revolution and Bang Goes The Theory
‘IT professional workforce central to economic recovery’
‘Globalisation and convergence have had major impacts on the IT & Telecoms workforce and the sector has experienced the effects of recent economic developments. However, the sector is expected to make a fast recovery. In addition, it is clear that the IT & Telecoms professional workforce will be central to the UK’s economic recovery.’
(e-skills UK Technology Counts UK: IT & Telecoms Insights 2010)
The IT Professional Skills Landscape
Available data shows that IT skills are in demand:
1. The UK need for IT Professionals is 23% higher than at the start of 2010 (Reed Annual Job Index).
2. e-Skills UK reports that demand for IT & Telecoms professionals has risen in 2010 with over 90,000 advertised positions available in the UK.
3. The number of applicants to IT related higher education courses has decreased 44% since 2001.
4. From 2002-2009 applicants' to Computing degrees have dropped 33%.
5. Recruiters reported difficulty in filling IT & Telecoms positions due to a lack of candidates with the required skills, qualifications or experience (e-Skills 2011).
The Professional Body View
The BCS has indicated that:
1. The desired level of maturity for the IT profession is an established level i.e. between level 4 and 5.
2. The current level is considered to be between levels 1 and 2.
3. To attain level 2, qualifications need to be brought together in a single regime, a professional core body of knowledge is defined and CPD operates.
Profession Maturity Model derived from the Carnegie Mellon University Capability Maturity Model®
SFIA Framework
• SFIA v4 is sector specific competency framework
• Used to describe roles in the IT & Telecoms Sector
• Key Drivers are to enable:– Business Effectiveness– Productivity– Resource Planning– Capability Mapping– Mergers and Acquisitions
Skills Framework for the Information Age
Activity Theory representation of‘Developing Professionalism’
Tools
Subject
Community
Object
Division of Labour
Rules
Outcomes
Activity Theory representation of‘Developing Professionalism’
CPD
IT Graduate
IT Profession
Develop Professionally
Accredited by IT Professional body
Standards and professional core body of knowledge
Professionalism
Developing new levels of Professionalism
CPD
IT Graduate
IT Profession
Develop Professionally
Accredited by IT Professional body
Standards and professional core body of knowledge
New levels ofProfessionalism
Mark Palmer – Open University – [email protected]
Supported Distance Learning
Tutor
Student+
Study Guide
On-line Conferencing
Tutorials
Residential
Assignments - TMAs
Manager’s Study Guide
Course Books
Revision
ExaminationStudent Forums
Negotiated Foundation DegreeNegotiated Foundation Degree
This new award is being developed and piloted using the ‘Learning through Work’ (LtW) platform. LtW is an on-line planning, management and delivery system to enable Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to offer negotiated work-based programmes agreed between learners, employers and HEIs. This process results in a customised learning programme that meets specific employer needs. This personalised, negotiated, foundation degree includes: • Work-based learning• APEL• Accreditation of employer-based educational
programmes• Open University modules• Learning programmes negotiated between
student/employee, employer, OU
Pilot Foundation Degree using this model is the National Foundation Degree in ICT.
Negotiated Foundation Degree (G20)- IT Industry Example
T122Level 1 30credits
M150Level 1 30credits
MT127Level 1 30credits
U122Level 1 30credits
T216Level 2 60credits
M263Level 2 30credits
T227Level 2 30credits
Make your experience countWork experience/training
Cisco NetworkingCCNA
Foundations Degree in Combined Professional
Practice
Data, computing and information
Building blocks of software
Career development and employability
Change, strategy and projects at work
Certified Practitioners 1Microsoft MCP or CCNA plus SFIA level 2 skill
PG Certificate in IT Professional Practice
ProfessionalProgramme
1. Professional foundations - overview
and concepts
2. Problem solving - analysis and intervention
3. Leadership skills for effective
IT-led change
4. Management of change -
techniques for analytical
frameworks
5. IT project management - key
concepts and application
6. Business solution design - introducing
the information systems lifecycle
Portfolio Assessment
BYA834 Improving your Practice
30 points – 6 months
UYA810Continuing Professional Development in Practice
30 points – 6 months
150 hours from Employer induction
training
ExternalCourse
15 hours15 hours CPD
ExternalCourse
15 hours15 hours CPD
ExternalCourse
15 hours15 hours CPD
ExternalCourse
15 hours15 hours CPD
ExternalCourse
15 hours15 hours CPD
ExternalCourse
15 hours15 hours CPD
Potential 45 points (maximum
permitted) MBA elective
60 points MSc
60 points Open Masters
OR
OR150 hours Readings, CPD concept
map, AssessmentTheme – Impact on
practice
50 hours Assessment
Theme – Improving your practice
Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Professional Practice
70 hoursReflective log based
on CPD
Custom Postgraduate Certificatein Advanced Professional Practice
Developing Professionalism in IT.Who needs it?Conclusion
1. The IT Skills Landscape is changing.
2. There is a need to drive the IT Profession further up the Professional Maturity Model to develop greater professionalism.
3. Employers need to look at staff development in the longer term.
4. Higher Education needs to develop flexible CPD ‘Tools’ that will accommodate these ‘Rule’ changes and take in to consideration the ‘Community’ of IT Professionals and Employers.
So who needs Developing Professionalism in IT?• Professional Bodies need it, Employers need it, Individuals need it,
Universities need it, we all need it.
For more information please contact:
http://www.openuniversity.co.uk/it
Kevin Streater
Executive Director, Employer Engagement
IT & Telecoms Sector
Business Development Unit
The Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes MK7 6AA
United Kingdom
Mob: +44 7802 933974
Email: [email protected]
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