Advanced IT Training System

Work process-oriented training in the IT-sector

The work process-oriented IT training system (APO-IT), International Advanced IT Training System, has been developed jointly by IT enterprises and social partners under the guidance of the Fraunhofer Institute. In May, 2002, this qualification gained legal force. IT continuing education not only regulates professional profiles and career paths for the IT sector, it is also the first formal acknowledgment of informal education on the job.

Not linked to a product and internationally recognised

The personnel certification of IT specialists is not linked to a specific product and is done in accordance with the guidelines of the European standard for personnel certification EN ISO/IEC 17024.

This certification, acknowledged all over Europe, is appropriate specifically for companies wanting to certify and further qualify their staff independent of products.

It is oriented towards the IT processes of a concerned company, instead of toward products and product companies. Therefore, continuing education is important for the organization and securing of quality in a company as well.

29 specialists and 6 professionals

APO-IT / AITTS defines three career levels. The first level is the level of specialists. On this platform, operative professionals and strategic professionals are active.

On the specialist level, there are presently 29 professional profiles. Each person has trained in one of the 5 IT professions or has corresponding professional know-how. The personnel certification is issued by an accredited certification authority. After five years, a re-certification is called for.

A link to higher education

The system is designed to be linked to university or college studies: the professionally gained abilities are to become part of the study programs, counting as credit points. The practical consequences of embedding these credentials into an academic study program are presently being dealt with.

All three career levels are transparent in their set up. Staff members presenting corresponding professional experience are given the opportunity to enter the next step in their specific fields. Developers of human resources in a sector that is strongly dominated by individuals with non-traditional careers and those without a college degree now have a chance to offer their expert staff members regular qualification and to define career perspectives in a new manner.

Continuing education within a company and project documentation

Work-oriented and process-oriented IT training courses respond to the call of the industry for further qualification in close relationship to everyday practice on the job. For each professional profile there is a reference model, corresponding to the work processes in the company. In case of an effective process dealing with an order placement, the candidates realize a so-called transfer project.

A coach as well as a contact partner for expert questions monitors the learning process. The process is documented by the expert according to a list of requirements and in doing so also presents the necessary documentation. The documentation is the basis for awarding the personnel certificate (specialists) or professional registration (professionals).

APO-IT / AITTS within the European context

The interests of the German ITK industry and the advanced IT training system are represented in Brussels by the representatives of BITKOM and IG Metall (Metalworkers' Union) at the CEN / ISS ICT Skills Workshop.

The European airplane manufacturer Airbus has started a German-French certification pilot project in connection with the IT Project Coordinator. At present, there are two French and five German persons participating in advanced training courses.

Further information

www.apo-it.de - classic reader for primary sources (for those experienced in documentation reading)

www.kibnet.org - competence center for IT training networks

www.cert-it.com - certification authority for IT specialists