IT Network Launch
Mary Cleary, Professional Development Manager at the Irish Computer Society, discusses the launch of the IT Trainers Network and its training quality initiatives.
The Irish Computer Society (ICS) became closely associated with the IT Training industry, in 1997, with its establishment of the training and certification body ECDL Ireland, now known as ICS SKILLS. At that time, the IT skills certification industry in this country was almost non-existent. IT skills certifications were confined to professional or end-user qualifications issued by training providers on an ad hoc basis. In the ten years since its introduction, there has been a surge of interest in ECDL.17% of the working population have embarked on an ECDL programme and over 1,000 accredited ICS SKILLS test centres are now established in Ireland. ICS SKILLS now offers a broad range of training programmes for beginners through to professional level.
With our increased reliance on computers, both at home and in the workplace, the high demand for IT training continues. The range of available IT training courses has widened and now a large number of IT certifications, from beginner to professional level are available in Ireland. Thousands of IT Trainers are employed in the delivery of these programmes, in public and private training centres, corporate
training departments, schools, universities and community groups.
As the national licensee of ECDL programmes in Ireland, ICS SKILLS has always been involved in accrediting test centres. However, the assurance and certification of the quality of training provision in those centres was not something that we occupied ourselves with. However, as a national, not-for-profit organisation we felt that we were uniquely placed to address this issue, on a national level, for the benefit of the training profession and society at large. We set about doing this with three key initiatives; the establishment of the IT Trainers Network (a professional body for IT Trainers), the development of the Certified Training Professional qualification and the launch of the associated Certified Training Centre status for ICS SKILLS test centres whose trainers, facilities and procedures adhered to specific quality standards that are laid down by ICS SKLIIS.
IT Trainers Network (ITTN)
Through our accreditation of ICS SKILLS training centres, we have developed close professional relationships with hundreds of IT trainers across the country. It became apparent to us that there was a need for a professional body for IT trainers in Ireland. This would enable professional trainers to share their expertise and to provide support to each other. In addition, the professionalism of IT trainers, and their contribution to the excellence of the Irish IT workforce, would be promoted by its establishment. At the time, ICS SKILLS was developing a comprehensive “train the trainer” programme called Certified Training Professional (CTP). It was also envisaged that a professional body for trainers could highlight the value of professional certification for IT trainers and so the ITTN or IT Trainers Network was founded.
Membership of the ITTN is inclusive – it is open to all IT training professionals, including those involved in both the delivery and the management of training. Membership of the Network is free. To be eligible for membership you must hold a training qualification, or have at least 2 years’ experience either training or managing a training programme.
Certified Members of the ITTN hold the Certified Training Professional (CTP) qualification, awarded by the ECDL Foundation and ICS SKILLS. CTP is the official qualification of the ITTN. The ITTN is affiliated to the Irish Computer Society (ICS) and Certified Members of the Network qualify automatically for full membership of the ICS. Holders of other training qualifications or experienced trainers / training managers are also eligible to join the ITTN as Ordinary Members.
The ITTN provides a valuable forum for Irish IT trainers to communicate, meet, voice their opinions and develop professionally. Regular seminars, which are free of charge, are scheduled nationally which enable members to network and hear presentations on topics related to IT training. The coming months see numerous ITTN evening seminars scheduled in Dublin, Galway and Donegal (for more details visit Events at www.ics.ie). The Network also has its own website which is currently in development www.ittrainers.ie. The site is live, so worth a look; more content and functionality will be added in the coming months.
On a practical level, the Network will enable members to improve their skills and knowledge, particularly with respect to new training technologies and techniques. Also, as IT Training can sometimes be a solitary profession the network will bring trainers together to support each other in dealing with the range of everyday crises, from funding of local initiatives to adapting training for candidates with special needs. We also provide a forum for sourcing employment opportunities and will promote the extension of the role of the trainer to include training management and staff development. If you’d like to join ITTN visit www.ittrainers.ie and register online.
Certified Training Professional (CTP) ICS SKILLS developed the Certified Training Professional (CTP) qualification to provide a benchmark for differentiating trainers on the basis of quality. Once launched, CTP generated much praise from the training community and official recognition of the programme came quickly. Most notably, because CTP was adopted by the ECDL Foundation as its official training qualification, it is now an internationally recognised standard of excellence in training. In addition, FÁS announced that holders of the qualification were eligible for inclusion on the FÁS/EI Register of Trainers. FÁS also included CTP in their Training for People in Employment scheme and currently offer up to 70% funding of the cost of the programme.
The CTP programme has two streams. The CTP Development programme is for candidates who want a career in training but have little or no experience. CTP Development gives them experience and know-how in training and prepares them for CTP Certification.
The course runs for one day a week, over twelve weeks, and incorporates forty hours of training observation as well as home study and assignment work. Core topics within the syllabus include How Adults Learn, Training Needs Analysis, Course Planning and Practical Evaluation.
Candidates who have already amassed experience in IT Training proceed straight to the CTP Certification programme. The Certification programme audits and certifies the candidate’s ability in, and commitment to standards in, training whether they have been learned through work experience or during the CTP Development programme. This is a flexible programme, which incorporates self-study of CTP course materials which candidates study at their own pace. The content covers all elements of the training cycle, from training needs analysis, course planning, delivery techniques and the use of materials to evaluate the course content and student benefit. The candidate also attends a three-day workshop where documentary and video evidence of training competence is provided. The candidate then has one month to complete the Trainer’s Evidence Record, with written documentary evidence of training competence. This is followed by the Evidence Review where the candidate meets with the CTP tutor to review and sign off all evidence submitted.
FÁS funding of CTP
FÁS Training for People in Employment funding is available to those working in the private sector, commercial public sector and the self-employed. Funding amounts to 70% of the cost of the programme for those based in the Border Midland West region, which incorporates Cavan, Donegal, Galway, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo and Westmeath. Funding for those based in the rest of the twenty-six counties amounts to 60% of the cost of the programme. This readily available financial support has given a great boost to CTP and helped to proliferate the qualification
within the Irish training community.
CTP and helped to proliferate the qualification within the Irish training community.
Certified Training Centres
ICS SKILLS accredits a network of over 1,000 centres delivering training and testing services to nearly 100,000 people every year. The majority of the centres’ clients are engaged in training and testing of the ECDL Core progra-mme, but the ever-increasing number and variety of ICS SKILLS courses are enabling centres to provide a full programme of IT training, from the entry level Equalskills programme to EUCIP at professional level.
In order to reward and recognise excellence at training centre level ICS SKILLS launched the Certified Training Centre (CTC) award for ECDL centres. The new CTC status was developed to recognise the efforts made by conscientious centres to ensure that training of the highest calibre is offered to clients. It also enables the public to differentiate training providers on the basis of quality.
The decision to award CTC status to a centre is based on a range of criteria. The key to excellence in training delivery is the expertise of the trainer and the CTP programme guarantees that the holder of this qualification has demonstrated a high level of competence in the planning, delivery and evaluation of training. A minimum of two trainers from a CTC centre must hold the qualification. The work of the trainer must also be supported by top class training materials and a professional training programme ought to follow a schedule appropriate for the needs of the student group. The provision of a continuum of training courses for candidates is also necessary.
Ireland’s first CTC centres were announced at the ICS SKILLS annual conference in May and to date fifteen Centres have received the award. Any ICS SKILLS centres who require more information on this quality in training initiative should visit www.ics-skills.ie.
