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	ISCP

International Summit on Computing Professionalism Workshop

Prof J. Barrie Thompson and Prof Helen M. Edwards
School of Computing and Technology,
University of Sunderland, St. Peter's Way,
Sunderland SR6 0DD, United Kingdom.

The summit will continue work, undertaken since 2000 to promote consideration and evaluation of a document entitled the "Harmonization of Professional Standards" that had been produced under the auspices of the International Federation for Information Processing. The IFIP Harmonization document highlights six areas for consideration with regard to professional standards. These are:

•  Professional Practice
•  Established Body of Knowledge
•  Education and Training
•  Professional experience
•  Best Practice and Proven Methodologies
•  Maintenance of Competence

A copy of the IFIP Harmonization document can be downloaded (.pdf)

The previous work has concentrated on Software Engineering as it was believed that was the area within the Computing discipline where professionalism was likely to receive the greatest attention. The work on Software Engineering professionalism In addition to research investigations and conference presentations has included a number of intensive workshop type events. Notable among these were workshops in 2001 at the International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE2001) and the Conference on Software Engineering Education and Training (CSEE&T 2001) and an International Summit on Software Engineering Professionalism (SSEP) which was co-Located with the 2002 International Conference on Software Engineering in Orlando, Florida.

The results of the various activities have all been reported in the academic press, for example, the results of the workshop held during the2001 Conference on Software Engineering Education and Training (CSEE&T 2001) were reported in depth in a paper published in Education and Information Technologies Volume 6 Number 4 December 2001. Clear outcomes of these activities is confirmation that the document produced by IFIP can provide an effective framework for the harmonisation of Software Engineering professionalism but that in its current form the document it is limited.

The IFIP harmonization document does contain relevant concepts and a useful framework which is acceptable within a range of geographical locations, but there is a significant level of detail that is missing which needs to be added to enable its effective use. To supply the missing details there is a need tot:

•  Try and build up a truly international view and be sensitive to local situations.
•  Get accurate data and find out what the situation is across the world both in the areas of professional practice and educational structures.

The prime aim of this summit is to provide a forum to consider not only professionalism within Software Engineering but also within the wider computing discipline. In particular, delegates will be directed, in both the activities at the Summit and in their position papers, to consider aspects of professionalism that are relevant to the following four particular areas that are highlighted in IFIP document:

•  Education and Training
•  Professional experience
•  Best Practice and Proven Methodologies
•  Maintenance of Competence

Potential delegates are invited to submit short position papers that address one or more of the above topic areas. Papers should include proposals regarding what needs to be produced to support the relevant sections in the IFIP document. These position papers and the activities at the summit should enable opinions to be formed on:

•  What are the key steps in a career in Software Engineering and other branches of computing?
•  What education and training are needed?
•  How should professional behaviour be regulated?
•  How is competence maintained and certified?