John O’Sullivan

Chisinau, Moldova 19 May 2011

Transformation & Competitiveness The role of ICT certification in Europe

The EU scene

Creating a borderless lifelong learning areaCreating a borderless lifelong learning area

National Qualifications System

National Qualifications Framework

EQF

Europass,

Diploma &

Certificate

Supplements

Bologna Framework

ECVET

ECTS

Referencing /

Self-

certification

EQARF

Recognition

Guidelines –

non-formal &

informal

learning

European Qualifications Framework (EQF)

• Applies to all types of

education, learning,

skills, qualifications

• Formal and otherwise

• Competence based –

“learning outcomes”

• Outputs not inputs

• Compares national

systems

Levels

8

7

6

5

4

3

2

1

European e-Competence Framework e-CF

• Based on a shared understanding of competence

• 5 e-Competence levels related to the EQF 8 levels

• Framework structured from 4 dimensions: Dimension 1: 5 e-CF areas Dimension 3: 5 e-CF levels Dimension 2: 32 competences Dimension 4: knowledge & skills

Competence: a demonstrated ability to apply knowledge, skills and attitudes for achieving observable results

www.ecompetences.eu

5

e-CF overview

Example: IT Quality Manager / Auditor

A.2. Service Level

Management

E.3. Risk Management

Competences required by

the profile

Competence required, but

respondent has deficiency

Competences that exceed

those required by the profile

CEPIS: Survey of professional e-Competence in Europe http://ecompetence.cepis.org/

What is ICT Certification ?

Process of gaining a “credential” in a ICT particular skill

• granted by a recognised body

• on achievement of an acceptable standard

• defined and judged by quality assured processes

Examples

• Degree in Computing

• Member of a professional body eg MBCS

• European Certification of Informatics Professional EUCIP

• European Computer Driving Licence ECDL

• Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer MCSE

• A Plus

Value of ICT Certification

• To employee / candidate – to improve pay / prospects

• To (prospective) employer – badge of competence

• To teacher and learner – setting the target

• To IT customer – confidence in supplier

• To IT supplier – promotional tool for business development

• To vendor – to protect distribution channel

• To public – confidence in IT professionals

• To national economy – economic development

Characteristics of e-certification

• Certification jungle ?

1300 certifications from 130 providers

Characteristics of e-certification

• Certification jungle ?

• Parallel universe ?

Disconnected from public education systems

Characteristics of e-certification

• Certification jungle ?

• Parallel universe ?

• Vital and fertile eco-

system supporting the

parent labour and product

markets ?

Lifelong learning

Education

Job/

Work

Training

Certification

Who is involved in ICT certification?

...

Multi-Stakeholder Partnership

DG

Employment,

Social Affairs

DG

Education &

Culture

DG

Info Society

& Media

ETF

Cedefop

FEANI

CEPIS

ECDL

Foundation

PIN-SME

European

Schoolsnet Informatics

Europe ETUC

EMF / UNI

Europa

Professional

bodies

European

Agencies

Education

Trade

associations

EUCIP

EICTA

ETSI

Standards

bodies

Trade

Unions

EuroCIO

User body

e-Skills ILB

(Industry

Leadership

Board)

ECMA

CEN

Research Agencies

EITO

Empirica

MS

Cisco

IBM

ECDL

EUCIP

ISEB

CERT-IT

CompTIA

European

Commission

DG Enterprise

& Industry

National Institute for Research and Development in

Informatics (ICI), INSCC

Ministry of

Education

ISACA

PMP, ECDL

CEEB

Professional

bodies

Government/EU

Agencies

Trade

associations

Map of organisations in ICT Certification Romania

ANCOM

Standards

bodies Trade

Unions APC

User body

ATIC

ANSPDCP

Research Agencies

MS

CISCO IBM

Oracle

ARIES

FICT

Ro Assoc

Telecom

Engineers

OWASP

RO

Public/Governmental

body

Ministry of

Communications and

Information Society

(MCIS)

Agency for

IS Services

ASSI

ICT Vendors

Universities

&

Polytechnics

ANIS

MS

CISCO Academy

Education & training

RoEduNet

CSIRT,

ENISA

e-Government & ICT

“Policy in the field of

information

technology and

communications”

(2004-2008)

IT&C Commission

Chamber of Deputies

ANISP

PMI

AOTR

Country Maps

EU

Belgium

Germany

Ireland

Italy

UK

Bulgaria

Romania

Netherlands

Spain

France ?

Volume was growing at 25% pa…

• Over 1300 certifications from 100 providers

• Test-to-train ratio 20 %, Pass ratio 30 to 50 % ?

• Volume of learning perhaps 10 times no of certifications

• But what happened then ?

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

00 07 08

Millions of

certifications

worldwide

Iceberg effect

Effect of the financial crisis

• Certification market

increased, then flat,

then decreased sharply

• Training market and

certification market

becoming disconnected

• Increased competition

– Price wars

• Vendors reluctant to

provide data

• EMEA worst affected

Incidence of training in last 3 months

1958

7197

9000

11000

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

1 2 3 4

ICT Certification Market Statistics in 000

2000 Mid 2007 Mid 2008 2010

Selected market data

Vendor Volume

Microsoft > 4 million

CompTIA 1.4 m

Cisco 1 m 27,000 per year

ITIL 276,000 2010

ISACA 95,000

Linux Professional Institute (LPI) 90,000

Certified Information Systems

Security Professional (CISSP)

70,000

Institute for Certification of

Computing Professionals

50,000

XML Master 17,000

Project Management Institute 393,000 Not all ICT

Certiport 9 m User + entry professional

European model - Vendor engagement

CompTIA

e1 e2 e3 e4 e5

A 1

A2

A3

B1

B2

B3

B4

C1

C2

C3

D1

D2

E1

E2

E3

E4

Cert

B

Cert A

Cert

C

Positioning certifications

• Working with

vendors

• Methodology for

positioning e-

certifications against

e-Competence

Framework (and

hence to EQF)

• Self assessment

with peer review

• International provider of ITIL + other certs, based NL

• Main domestic product is TRACKS:

– 5 roles, 3 or 4 modules each, 2 to 5 core tasks

• Three role certs have been positioned against e-CF1

– Business Information Manager

– Tester

– IT Project Manager

• Each task is allocated to competence and level

e-CF area

Prepare and

implement a project

Manage a

project

E2 Project and Portfolio

Management

e-3 e-3

• Ireland HETAC have accredited

these certs at their Level 6

• Hence EQF Level 5, e-CF Level e-2

• Awarded ECTS credits as shown

• Microsoft now seeking accreditation

in other countries

MCSA 25

MCSE 35

MCTS 10 *

MCPD 20/25

MCT 10

MCITP pending

Security Specialist

Vendor ComTIA

level

e-CF

level

EQF

level

SFIA

level

e-CF

area

Descr

Cisco Expert e-4 7 5-6 A5 Architecture

Design

Citrix Expert e-4 7 5-6 D1 Info Security

Strategy Devel.

CompTIA Specialist e-3 6 5-6 D8 Contract

Management

Microsoft Specialist e-3 6 5-6 E3 Risk

Management

Cisco Specialist e-3 6 5-6 E8 Info Security

Management

Microsoft Intermediate e-2 5

Microsoft Beginner

CompTIA Roadmap

Draft roadmap (in German) related to e-CF

CompTIA

Related CEN activities

ICT Certification

in Europe

e-Career

Services

EQF

ICT Cert

in Action

e-CF for SMEs

User

Framework e - Job

Profiles

Conclusions

• EQF is the central European reference for all

education, training and qualifications

• e-CF is the first sector application

• Certification has a vital role on lifelong learning

• Vendors are engaged in positioning their

certifications against e-CF and EQF

CEN Workshop

Agreement

e-Certification in

Action