VSJ – Feb 2003 – Members’ News

The Director General, Mike Ryan, writes about some new developments of interest to members.

The IAP prides itself on its commitment to responding rapidly and flexibly to changes in the IT industry. This month, we can announce two such initiatives.

Licentiate Grade

First, the Council has approved the creation of a new grade of member, the Licentiate. This is, in part, a response to the development of foundation degrees, which are two-year courses that would not entitle a holder to election as a Grad IAP. Nevertheless, they do represent a standard at which an employer can confidently expect a body of IT knowledge and skills that provide the basis for a competent, albeit inexperienced, member of staff.

Because the IAP’s evaluation scheme operates at the module (rather than the course) level, this means that students on other courses may be able to apply for the LIAP designation before completion. For instance, an honours degree student might well be successful towards the end of his or her second year of study. The second year is often followed by an industrial placement year, so this would give a prospective employer confidence in the student’s abilities.

The Council has also taken this opportunity to abolish the old Student grade. In future, therefore, no one will be admitted to the IAP unless they can demonstrate a significant level of professional competence, worthy at least of the Licentiate grade.

Some marginal alterations have been made in the boundary criteria for election to some grades. These reflect changes in the nature of the IT industry over the last few years. Full details are available to interested members from Robin Jones at eo@iap.org.uk.

The Employment Exchange

That the employment scene has become particularly difficult in the last year or so will come as no news to anyone. The IAP has, of course, no control over that. But it can help prospective employees communicate with prospective employers and vice versa.

So we are going to offer a free service to IAP members through the pages of VSJ. Members looking for work (full-time, part-time, contract or consultancy) can advise Robin Jones at eo@iap.org.uk and we will publish brief details in the next available issue. Similarly, employers who are IAP members can advise us of their needs in the same way and these will also be printed. This may be particularly attractive to small companies for whom the advertising rates of the conventional publications are difficult to justify.

Because this service is free and we have limited space, we cannot hope to match supply and demand. So it will be on a first-come-first-served basis. But, because both prospective employees and employers will be working through the same channel, it may well be that some ‘matching’ can be done before details get into print!

We are always looking out for new things that we can do for our members. If you have an idea that you’d like us to consider, get in touch!

Nominations for the Council of the IAP

The Institution is a democratic body governed by a Council elected by and from its members. Five members of the 15-strong Council retire in rotation each year. Nominations for the 2003 election, accompanied by the nominee’s manifesto (in electronic form and not exceeding 150 words, please), must be received at the Institution Office by 28 February. Contact the Office for further details, or an informal discussion, if you are interested in playing your part in the governance of the Institution.

[Don’t forget to email eo@iap.org.uk with items of news about you or your company.]

ng it� tr��+�*the needs of the end-user. I believe PA will become a fact of life in Microsoft products and I am sure it will not be long before other software vendors follow with similar methodologies.

As for the take-up of Windows XP, I can’t see there being a significant reduction in the number of copies being sold owing to the incorporation of PA once people understand the mechanism behind it. Let’s face it, sooner or later, most personal computer users will be using it, whether they like it or not.

Interesting project or development? Let us know at eo@iap.org.uk!

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