The Emerging ISO International Standard for Certification of Software Engineering Professionals

Transcription

1 The Emerging ISO International Standard for Certification of Software Engineering Professionals Juan Garbajosa jgs at eui.upm.es Universidad Politécnica de Madrid Technical University of Madrid

2 (Known) facts Our lives depend more and more on software intensive systems with critical software components Similarly to other disciplines, standards describing software engineering effective practices are being produce for some years now, including a Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK)

3 Some more (known) facts The required competences and qualifications of professionals who develop software intensive systems is a concern - Software engineering degrees at Universities - Qualification and certification schemes for software engineering professionals - Licence or charter status to software engineering professionals Even more, schemes have different mechanisms for competence assessment apprenticeship - Examination/review of education/experience

4 Still some more Globalisation implies scenarios in which software engineering professionals work in different countries - Large corporations have their own approach - This may include but, by no means not limited to, offshoring From this, the importance of fostering portability of software engineering professionals, with expected competences Certification of professionals has a role

5 ISO/IEC approach to a work item ISO/IEC JTC1 SC7 Software and Systems Engineering set up a study group on certification of software engineering professionals Conclusions of the study group - Supporting mutual recognition of professional credentials would be rewarding - This was already done, but at regional level - Support to this could be attained by a reference model A NWI project was approved: NP 24773

6 ISO/IEC timeframe and participation NWI approval: Fall 2005 WD, CD/FCD:2006,2007 FDIS: Spring 2008 Publication: Summer 2008 ISO/IEC 24773:2008 Software Engineering Certification of Software Engineering Professionals Comparison Framework Participation was diverse in culture and embedded accreditations (many countries and cultures)

7 ISO/IEC design guidelines Open to different local approaches Simple and thin Compliant with ISO/IEC 17024:2003. Conformity assessment -- General requirements for bodies operating certification of persons Universities are encouraged to participate in the initial and continuing development of software engineering professionals Certification bodies are encouraged to consult with and work with universities in establishing schemes under this standard

8 ISO/IEC principles Reaching consensus has been a fundamental driver Respectful with local approaches Framework, to let people work Usable both for certification and qualification, and comparison purposes - Certification and qualification bodies

9 Certification scheme structure Requirements for a Certification Scheme Knowledge and skills Evaluation of competence Codes of ethics and professional practice Maintenance of certification

10 Requirements for a Certification Scheme Title List of tasks for a software engineering professional to undertake A description of characteristics of the work associated with the title A description of the competences, and how these competences will be evaluated. Minimum educational qualification or experience

11 Knowledge and skills: body of knowledge The evaluation component of the scheme shall be based on a proposed body of knowledge The expected cognitive level of a successful candidate shall be defined (level of apprenticeship) Technical knowledge need not be restricted to software engineering: it may include topics such as information systems (flavours) Both software engineering and generic skills are considered

12 Body of knowledge: SWEBOK as a reference ISO/IEC does not enforce or preclude the use of any specific body of knowledge However ISO/IEC TR 19759:2004 (SWEBOK) is used as a common reference: The proposed body of knowledge used has to be mapped onto TR 19759

13 Evaluation of competence The set of competences shall be described How each competence has been mastered or attained has to be described (education, training, experience ) How to evaluate each competence

14 Codes of ethics and professional practice No specific item is enforced - Codes of ethics are always subject to dispute - Codes of ethics may vary from one professional culture to another A number matters that potentially should be included are provided in ISO/IEC Minimum standards of conduct - Goals of the software engineering profession - Rights and duties of software engineering professionals with respect to the public, employers, peers, and clients

15 Maintenance and certification Requirements for maintaining and renewing certification Clauses for renewal Continuing professional development

16 And now The standard describing the framework for comparison of schemes for certification of software engineering professionals is ready A new project NP 29154, Guidelines and Examples for Certification of Software Engineering Professionals has recently started Deployment can be done directly but also based on liaisons

17 Conclusions ISO/IEC responds to the need of creating a framework to better support mutual recognition of professional credentials ISO/IEC is built on a wide consensus basis ISO/IEC is open to national approaches and also to multi-national organizations ISO/IEC NP will pave the way for the application of the ISO/IEC 24773

18 Thank you for your attendance Questions?