GSE Training and Certification Working Group

Notes from kick-off meeting

Date:             Thursday 26 January
Venue:          JPMorgan Chase Bank

Attending:    Phil Howard-Knight             Bank of America         Chairman and note taker

Peter Stevenson                 JPN Chase                  Assistant chairman

Keith Walker                         Allianz Cornhill

Neil Price                              TNT

Roger Troughton                 BT Exact

Simon Hutchings                 Nationwide

Hugh Suter                           EDS

David Laird                           RSM

Malcolm Beattie                   IBM

These notes submitted (belatedly) by Phil Howard-Knight.

Introduction

Phil Howard-Knight and Peter Stevenson opened the meeting by outlining the objectives of the group.

In summary, many companies are increasingly interested in having Personal Development Plans for their employees and are seeking ways of assessing progress in these. The emergence of certification programmes, notably in the Microsoft and Cisco worlds, has meant an increased focus on skills assessment in the IT world, but up until recently no such programme existed for Mainframe skills.

As a result several companies have been investigating possibilities and RSM have reacted by putting together their “Mainframe Technology Professional” (MTP) programme. It is agreed that this is an excellent start, but it has been generally felt that this will be of most value to the mainframe community if it could become a more general programme, with industry wide support most especially from IBM.

For more information please see Peter’s presentation:

Phil also presented an extract from Computing which reflected the general interest in this topic. Phil has contacted the e-Skills Agency but so far with no great effect. The article is attached here.

An overview of the Mainframe Technology Professional” proposal from RSM.

David Laird of RSM presented the MTP programme, from the reasons for its creation through to the current status. He explained that the structure is developing, both in terms of what certifications are already available and what they are planning to produce in the future. He commented that RSM would be fully supportive of it becoming part of a larger industry wide scheme.

David also outlined the discussions that he had been having with the BCS, with a view to getting them involved in the running and promoting of the scheme.

Please view David’s presentation for further information:

IBM’s zSeries University Programme

Malcolm Beattie from IBM gave a presentation on IBM’s zSeries University programme, which is aligned with the Mainframe Charter and Part of IBM’s Academic Initiative. Malcolm has been responsible for the programme in Europe for the past year.

Malcolm commented that he saw a Mainframe Certification programme as a natural extension to the work IBM are doing with Universities and that he would do what he could to help us promote the idea within IBM.

Please see Malcolm’s presentation for further information:

Open discussion, definition of our objectives & next steps.

A productive discussion followed in which those present outlined their own companies’ reasons for wanting to engage in some form of mainframe certification, mostly along the same lines as those presented in the opening session. It was agreed that the best result would be to create an industry recognised certification framework which would; -

1. be recognised and supported by IBM and other major mainframe related vendors

2. not be owned by any particular interest group but independently governed (possibly by GSE and other user groups)

3. be international in scope, the greater the geographical spread the better.

4. include aspects of multiple choice, written and practical testing.

Under this framework: -

1. Certifications could be put forward by any industry body (hardware / software / training / services vendors etc.) but would be independently assessed as to suitability for inclusion in the programme.

2. Specific levels of achievement within the programme could be reached by taking a number of “core” certifications on general knowledge of the specific technology area and also a number of selectable certifications on specific products, as not all IT shops use the same product set to achieve the same results.

3. Training for these certifications could likewise be provided by any industry body, however it was not envisaged that this would be regulated (at this time).

It was felt that involving IBM in the development of this programme was the major first step. Accordingly the following actions were noted:

· Pete Stevenson to document our objectives, preferably in terms of a VMOG (Vision, Mission, Objectives, Goals) structure.

· Phil Howard-Knight to write a letter to be sent to key contacts within IBM to gain their support.

· Malcolm Beattie to provide names of said key contacts.

Date of next meeting.

It was decided to delay setting a date until the above actions had been completed and there was more to discuss/report.

Volunteers to assist in organising the group.

Phil Howard-Knight explained that he had been happy to help set the group set up and wished to continue to be part of it, however he would not have time to remain part of the organising committee. Peter Stevenson had volunteered to continue as chairman but it would be good to have at least one other person involved.

Keith Walker indicated that he would like to get involved but would need to check first. Subsequent to the meeting Keith has confirmed that he will indeed be able to do this.