BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT and the Sri Lanka Association of Software and Service Companies (SLASSCOM) have reached a non-binding agreement which could see BCS qualifications reaching more students in the region. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) means both organisations will work together to further mutual aims.

 As part of the MOU, SLASSCOM will aim to endorse a number of BCS short development courses such as e-type as well as its internationally recognised ISEB qualifications, such as Software Testing; ITIL Service Management and Green IT. SLASSCOM also intends to promote BCS Professional Exams, which are at the highest level equivalent to a UK university degree, plus occasional BCS services, publications and products.

 Michiel van der Voort, BCS International Director, says: “There is real demand for BCS qualifications in the region—an area BCS is ambitious to consolidate its presence in—and I’m delighted for BCS to sign an MOU with SLASSCOM. Such organisations are vital in helping us reach candidates around the world at grass root levels and I hope we can maintain a mutually beneficial relationship for some time to come.”

 “We are focusing on UK and Europe as one of our strategic markets to promote the Sri Lanka IT/BPO industry. BCS’s strong reach and membership in UK and Europe will help Sri Lankan enterprises to build relationships with key decision makers in the UK and Europe. BCS professional qualifications will help drive capacity development and enhance credibility of Sri Lanka professionals in the global market,” says Madu Ratnayake General Secretary of SLASSCOM.

It follows a number of new deals signed between BCS and new partnership organisations around the globe during recent months. These include a new partnership with iSQI, a leading certifier in the field of software quality which will see BCS qualifications being translated into German and Spanish to meet demand from IT professionals in Europe.

BCS has also arranged a partnership with the Global Certification Institute (GCI) in Australia to deliver a range of BCS qualifications to IT practitioners.

Last month BCS set out its new vision and strategy for the organisation, highlighting six critical IT issues which BCS believes face society.  These are:

1. The digital divide
2. Information vulnerability
3. Poor information management
4. ‘IT project’ failures
5. IT skills shortages
6. Improved career paths for IT professionals