ITP Techblog

Here's a quick weekly update from ITP CEO Paul Matthews

This week we're happy to announce a series of live webinars from ITP, talking about Chartered IT Professional NZ and Certified Technologist certifications. Plus, talking about Facebook's new transparency tools on RNZ's Nine to Noon.

CITPNZ/CTech Webinar series kicks off 

Thanks for all of the feedback regarding the CITPNZ and CTech commentary last week. These were overwhelmingly positive and it's great to hear from a number of people getting started on the pathway.

For those who wonder what it's all about, CITPNZ and CTech are professional certifications as opposed to technical certifications. This means that rather than assessing whether you can do specific tasks with specific technologies, they independently confirm that you:

1. Know what you're doing (in your chosen area)
2. Keep up to date in your field
3. Are trustworthy
4. Are bound by a Code of Ethics, and
5. Can demonstrate actual results

In short, you're someone that the professional body of the sector has independently assessed and can endorse as a bona fide professional. It's not a guarantee that you'll always get it right; but it is a commitment that if you breach your ethical responsibilities, the professional community can hold you to account.

Last year we saw a net 10% gain on those who decided to become certified, and this year is starting off with a bang as well.

We're kicking off a live webinar series covering CITPNZ and CTech for those that are interested in finding out more, or want some help or guidance in how to apply.

These live webinars will start with a run-through of what CITPNZ and CTech are and why (from a high level), followed by a detailed walkthrough of how to apply plus plenty of time for Q&A.

Each will be hosted by either myself or Daniel Merriott, ITP's Director of Professional Capability, and a recorded version will be available later as well.

If you have an interest in certification but haven't taken the step yourself, this is for you. Or if you have colleagues who want to know what it's all about.

You can find out more and register for the next one here.

 

RNZ New Technology: Talking Facebook's new transparency tools

As many of you will know, Facebook released their "Off-Facebook Activity" tools this week to let users see what information they hold on them that was obtained outside Facebook's own platform, and who gave it to them.

I talked to Kathryn Ryan on RNZ about the tool and how it works in this week's New Technology segment on RNZ Nine to Noon, along with the stoush that's brewing between the tech sector and Government over the structure of Workforce Development Councils (see this update on TechBlog).

You can listen to the podcast here.