Certification of ICT skills a bridge between Universities

Certification of ICT skills: a bridge between Universities and Industries N. Scarabottolo – AICA – Italy nello. scarabottolo@unimi. it UNICTRY ’ 07 Genzano di Roma – May 26 th 2007

Summary • Introduction • Italian University System after Bologna pan-European agreement (1999) • The Campus. One project: ECDL in Italian Universities • The IT 4 PS project: problem oriented usage of ICT tools • The EUCIP 4 U project: certification for ICT professionals Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 2

ICT certifications • Based on ex ante definition of competence syllabus: § Universities and Industries involved. • Clear separation between training and (third part) assessment. • No self-referentiality risk but no evidence of training differences. • Suitable for: § instrumental competences (English, ICT skills); § vendor-dependent ICT products. Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 3

Summary ü Introduction • Italian University System after Bologna pan-European agreement (1999) • The Campus. One project: ECDL in Italian Universities • The IT 4 PS project: problem oriented usage of ICT tools • The EUCIP 4 U project: certification for ICT professionals Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 4

Universities in Italy • From 2001/02, curricula restructured according to Bologna pan-European agreement: § 3 + 2 + 3 years degree scheme; § ECTS accounting based on 60 CFUs per year; § course names defined by single universities; § each course must belong to a class; § horizontal topics (English, ICT basic skills) compulsory for all courses. Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 5

Summary ü Introduction ü Italian University System after Bologna pan-European agreement (1999) • The Campus. One project: ECDL in Italian Universities • The IT 4 PS project: problem oriented usage of ICT tools • The EUCIP 4 U project: certification for ICT professionals Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 6

The Campus. One project • Launched in 2001 -2004 by Conference of Italian Universities Rectors (CRUI). • Particular attention to basic skills in computer usage. • Focusing and funding on certification of basic skills to: § avoid self-referencing in assessment of horizontal capabilities; § encourage mobility of students. • Initially, support to the ECDL scheme. Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 7

ECDL in universities University students Inside Universities slightly more focused to TOTAL Universities vs. Total obtain a certification. ECDL exams passed 641, 884 98, 849 15. 4 % ECDL licenses 115, 939 18, 788 16. 2 % START 12, 955 license far 10, 759 more interesting for Universities than for 8, 029 other 102, 984 people 83. 0 % ECDL START licenses ECDL FULL licenses 7. 8 % Dimensions of the ECDL programme in 2003 Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 8

ECDL growth Sharp increase after the initial setup of the Campus. One project. Progressive shift towards FULL certification. Number of University licenses over the years Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 9

ECDL impact At the end of the Campus. One project, a significant amount of new students certified. Percentages of certified freshmen Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 10

Summary ü Introduction ü Italian University System after Bologna pan-European agreement (1999) ü The Campus. One project: ECDL in Italian Universities • The IT 4 PS project: problem oriented usage of ICT tools • The EUCIP 4 U project: certification for ICT professionals Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 11

The IT 4 PS project • Advanced skills in usage of spreadsheets and databases. • Aimed at enhancing problem solving capabilities instead of package knowledge. • Three areas of application: § § § Economy; Medicine and pharmacy; Statistics for social sciences. • Teaching material and books produced. Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 12

The IT 4 PS certification • 1 hour test for solving a real problem – in one of the application areas – with advanced usage of spreadsheet or database. • Result-based vs. solution-based evaluation. • Tested mid 2007 and launched as an Italian certification (AICA). • Final goal: to export IT 4 PS at the European level through CEPIS. Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 13

Summary ü Introduction ü Italian University System after Bologna pan-European agreement (1999) ü The Campus. One project: ECDL in Italian Universities ü The IT 4 PS project: problem oriented usage of ICT tools • The EUCIP 4 U project: certification for ICT professionals Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 14

EUCIP certification • CEPIS EUropean Certification scheme for Informatics Professionals. • Two levels of certification: § EUCIP core (PLAN, BUILD, OPERATE) • basic knowledge in applied Informatics; • certification based on multiple choice tests. § EUCIP elective (professional profiles) • specific profiles (e. g. , network manager, software developer); • tests based on competence portfolios. • Incorporates the IT administrator certification. Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 15

PROFESSIONAL LEVEL ELECTIVE PROFILES ELECTIVE MODULES Typically 800 hours of study time Mix of vendor and vendorindependent courses and qualifications CORE LEVEL Typically 400 hours of study time Compulsory for professional level IS Manager IS Quality Auditor Enterprise Sol. Cons. Business Analyst Logistics & Autom. C. Sales and Applic. C. Client Services Mgr IS Project Manager IT Systems Architect IS Analyst Web & Multimedia M. Systems Int. &Test. E. Software Developer Database Manager X-Systems Techn. TLC Engineer Network Architect Security Adviser Network Manager Configuration Mgr Help Desk Engineer IT Trainer EUCIP scheme VOCATIONAL STRUCTURE Based on the needs of User industry and IT services industry EUCIP core. Needs 400 study hours, typically part of the EUCIP elective. Up to June 2006: curricula of computer – 22 profiles engineers anddefined; scientists – 8 profiles during their activated, 3 -years with completecourses. specification document. University Competence portfolios – including certifications – PLAN vendor-dependent BUILD OPERATE The use and Acquisition, Operations and evaluated by a commission. management of development and support of information implementation of information systems 800 information study hours can be included in a systems SPECIALIST LEVEL master degree or +2 University IT Administrator course. Project Support Specialist Call Centre Operator Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 16

The EUCIP 4 U project • Launched in 2004 by AICA, CRUI Foundation and the Italian inter. University ICT Consortium CINI. • Aimed at introducing EUCIP into Universities: § starting with EUCIP core for computer engineers and scientists; § involving in EUCIP core also economists and technical managers; § evolving towards EUCIP elective for computer engineers and scientists. Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 17

EUCIP 4 U activities • Mapping of EUCIP core syllabus into University curricula. • Activation of University Competence Centers (CCUs) to deal with EUCIP tests. • Trials to evaluate actual coverage of EUCIP core syllabus by students. • Production of e-learning courses for EUCIP core. • Real certification tests to disseminate EUCIP. Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 18

Trials June 2004 • 10 Universities, around 200 3 rd-year PLAN test resulted by far the students in computer engineering and most difficult one: sciences. – business-style English • language Trials based on 45 for 3 multiple-choice not familiar computer engineers andthreshold 60 %. questions. Success scientists; • Results: – PLAN topics badly covered by University curricula. PLAN Succeeding students Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 35. 7 % BUILD 76. 7 % OPERATE 79. 5 % 19

Tests end 2004 • Performed after specific teaching on PLAN topics. • Real certification tests: § 90 minutes for each module; PLAN test still the § 45 multiple-choice questions for PLAN; most difficult one. § 40 multiple-choice questions for BUILD & OPERATE; § success threshold 60 %. • Results: PLAN BUILD OPERATE Examined students 166 181 179 Succeeding students 52. 4 % 70. 7 % 65. 4 % Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 20

Activities up to end 2006 • Special offer tu students: € 100 for e-learning course on PLAN and EUCIP core test. • 7 e-learning courses on PLAN followed by about 700 students. • still Results of 1/3 theoffinal tests: … around computer engineering PLAN BUILD OPERATE and sciences students not passing EUCIP year Stud. tests. Success Stud. Success Increasing percentage 2004 166 52. 4 % 181 70. 7 % 179 65. 4 % of students passing PLAN, but… 2005 166 57. 8 % 139 63. 3 % 139 61. 2 % 2006 238 60. 9 % 213 68. 5 % 200 67. 0 % TOTAL 570 57. 5 % 533 67. 9 % 518 64. 9 % Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 21

EUCIP 4 U lesson • Tuning between University curricula and EUCIP syllabus required. • Poor knowledge of non-technical English. • EUCIP core cannot be the final certification for computer engineers and scientists: need of elective profiles. • Students feedback shows the importance of recognition of EUCIP by Extreme the job market (i. e. , ICT Industries) ! Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 22

Thanks a lot for your attention !!! Genzano di Roma, May 26 th 2007 23