Education Support for Data Professionals
DAMA (Data Management Association)
DAMA International (DAMA-I) is committed to the support of data professionals worldwide. These are difficult but slowly improving economic times. Jobs are difficult to find and keep, and as technology continues to evolve, more employers are expecting continuing education and advanced qualifications. Against this background, DAMA-I is increasing the scope of support for the education of the data professional. This includes support for students in post-secondary institutions, practitioners and employers. Professional education opportunities have long been a central concern of DAMA-I, with events and conferences at the local chapter and international levels. Online resources supplement these events. We sponsor certificate and training programs, and through listings, provide recognition of qualification for the benefit of individuals and employers.
Certification program revision: DAMA-I has been involved with ICCP (International Certified Computing Professionals) certification since 1994 in the development of a specialty exam in data resource management (DRM). With this certification, employers can be assured of a standard of professionalism in this area. We are currently overhauling the exam and splitting it into three specialty exams: data management, database management and data warehousing. We also acknowledge and/or support the following certification programs: Insurance Data Management Association (IDMA) – Certified Insurance Data Manager; Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS) – Information Systems Professional; and British Computing Society (BSC) – Business Systems Development Certificate in Data Management.
DAMA-I Committee for the Advancement of Data Management Programs in Post-Secondary Institutions Curriculum Revision: The subcommittee on recommended post-secondary curriculum, with the Information Resource Management Association (IRMA), is developing the overhaul of the curriculum for various post-secondary delivery channels including community college and university in the North American, European and Australian education models. The identification and leverage of cross-disciplinary education opportunities for institutions and alignment of programs with our ICCP/DRM exam is one central strategy. A goal is to have students graduate "exam ready" for the ICCP/DRM certification. We hope to complete this joint effort in spring 2004.
Conferences and Local Chapter Events: Of course, DAMA-I holds and promotes conferences and local chapter events for the continuing education and networking of professionals. DAMA-I also has a grant support program for local chapter regional speaker tours. Costs are shared among a few chapters, and DAMA-I subsidizes the tour. This allows increased local exposure of our professionals to continuing education by thought leaders.
The educational benefits of membership with DAMA-I include: a professional international representation in DAMA-I, a professional career path from "administrator to architect," a continuing education infrastructure and core, access to group of thought leaders in data, a recommended curriculum for post secondary education changing with your industry, a professional certification program and membership in the premier organization for data professionals worldwide.
For further information on any of these topics, please contact me at VP_Educational_Services@dama.org , or visit www.dama.org.
DAMA CHAPTER LISTING
This is the list of DAMA international chapters. For details, visit our Web site: www.dama.org. |
Deborah Henderson, research information coordinator and performance measurement analyst in Customer Care Services for Ontario Hydro, is currently implementing an integrated performance measurement system. She has an extensive background in course and technical paper writing and speaking in the area of EIS/DSS, data warehousing and OLAP architecture and design. She can be reached at (905) 946- 6276 or debora h.henderson@hydro.on.ca.
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