The NUI Maynooth-based Innovation Value Institute has kicked off the first ever EU-wide survey focused on professionalism within the IT industry that could in its way help create the framework for careers of CIOs and IT managers of the future.
The European Commission commissioned IVI and CEPIS in January to contribute to the development of a European framework for ICT professionalism, which is ultimately aimed at increasing the competences and mobility of IT practitioners across Europe. Details of the survey can be found online.
“We are putting out a general call to senior ICT professionals across the continent to take part in what we expect will be ground-breaking research,” said IVI head of research and development, Dr Stephen McLaughlin.
“For an industry that is so ubiquitous and diverse, there is very little centralised data on how people work, how they got to the position they are in, and what careers paths people enjoy. This may be one of the reasons why IT often remains a niche support player in many organisations, despite its importance to the company and this is part of what the EU is trying to address – helping IT to prove itself at the boardroom table. The survey we are launching is very much part of this,” Dr McLaughlin said.
Challenges facing organisations in the 21st century
The survey is targeted at ICT practitioners, ICT managers, ICT education providers and ICT professional associations and focuses on areas like the structure of an ICT professionalism framework, certification programmes on job mobility and career development and what training and education is best suited to develop the CIO/IT manager of the future.
“While this is a considerable period of time for busy people, the survey has been carefully calibrated to ensure the best possible quality of data returns,” McLaughlin said.
“This is an important project for the European Commission with the focus on producing highly effective outcomes. This is a real chance for senior industry practitioners, all across Europe, to have their say; not only in defining the current status of the ICT profession, but how it should be shaped to meet the challenges facing organisations in the 21st century”, said McLaughlin.
