Posted November 13th, 2006 by editor

Following the outcome of the CAR project for resourcing ITIL exploitation, APMG has found itself a most serious competitor. ISEB and EXIN have now formalized their alliance for a new qualification program for individuals in the field of IT Service Management. On 1st November 2006 the two IT Service Management examination providers signed a Memorandum of Understanding to fulfill the following mission: The continual improvement of professionalism in IT Service Management.
Not a word about ITIL exams.

BCS-ISEB and EXIN have developed a great series of IT Service Management exams based on ITIL v1 and v2. They have done so since 1992, which gave them a very firm position in the global market. ISEB originally developed the Manager's exam, which was adopted by EXIN. In 1993, EXIN developed the Essentials exam, later called Foundation, which was adopted by ISEB a year later. The Practitioner's exams, and later the Practitioner Cluster exams, where also developed by EXIN and adopted by ISEB shortly after. Fact is that the two exam bodies have always followed eachother very closely, and brought IT Service Management exams all over the world. Their cooperaton in the ITIL Certification Management Board (ICMB) has made sure that each step was considered well, and not taken in isolation.

ISEB and EXIN: large numbers
The number of IT professionals who were certified in ITSM by ISEB and EXIN has grown far over 300,000 individuals, and this figure is still growing exponentially. Both ISEB and EXIN have offices in the main continents, and provide exams in many (up to 10) languages.

IT Service Management: more than ITIL
The new initiative is aimed at improving the skills of IT experts in the field of IT Service Management. It will cover all available material that can support this, including (elements of) ITIL, ISO20000, COBIT, CMMI, and other IT management frameworks of interest.

Broad support
The ISEB/EXIN initiative is supported by some of the most prominent players in the field, ranging from Craig Pattison (itSMF International board member for Certifications) up to Sharon Taylor (chief architect of ITIL Refresh).
The fact that itSMF International now explicitly supports the ISEB/EXIN initiative makes clear that itSMFI is serious with their statement "itSMF International is committed to supporting and will continue to support best practice in IT Service Management, including but not limited to the ITIL Refresh Project and to ITSM qualifications and standards."

ISEB and EXIN continue their work: business as usual
From January 1, APMG is going to be responsible for managing the ITIL exams. Until now, no deals were closed with ISEB, EXIN or itSMF on the actual support of this. The press release makes clear that EXIN and ISEB will offer certifications on IT Service Management as they have done for the last 15 years. Being very professional bodies, they will (have to) make sure that the market will be able to take their IT Service Management exams, without any disruption, and that the exams will be the best there are. Both exam bodies have licenses for ITIL v2 until summer 2007, so they will have plenty of time to take the required action. ITIL v3 will not be published before April 2007, with certifications to follow later that year.

Good governance
ISEB & EXIN will involve the IT Service Management community and their stakeholders in the governance and management structures for this new initiative. That is exactly what was proposed in the CAR bid that was lost by both, in favor of APMG. The immense network EXIN and ISEB have developed over the years is expected to enable them in their mission to develop an independent and top-quality program for certifications and qualifications of individuals in the field of IT Service Management.

Read the full Press Release below:


PRESS RELEASE
November 13 2006

BCS-ISEB and EXIN alliance
We are pleased to announce that BCS-ISEB and EXIN have formalized their alliance. On 1st November 2006 the two IT Service Management examination providers, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to fulfill the following mission:

The continual improvement of professionalism in IT Service Management.

In close cooperation with stakeholders the alliance aims at ensuring quality and providing assurance to all IT professionals that practice-oriented qualifications and certifications are developed in accordance with international standards and best practices.
To accomplish this mission, the new joint working initiative provides a worldwide occupational competency framework for IT Service Management at all levels. This will be designed to include all elements necessary to produce this framework and will be looking to work through various governance and quality controls in order to achieve these overall goals:
- Providing a worldwide occupational competency framework for IT Service Management at all levels.
- Providing a common international qualification and certification program based on the skills required for professional roles in IT Service Management.
- Stewardship over the qualification program and quality of certification and related services provided by the exam institutes.
- Stakeholders’ commitment based on common interest, mutual benefits and a clearly defined role of the IT Service Management community.
- Professional support for the worldwide dissemination of the qualification program.
- Encouraging the use of worldwide recognized standards and best practices.
- Innovation, using new opportunities to adapt services to meet the needs of local markets and professional domains.
- Control and audit mechanisms to enforce compliance to rules and regulations in the whole delivery chain of qualification and certification services.

Involving experts
BCS-ISEB and EXIN will improve IT Service Management by involving stakeholders in the development of the qualification and certification program. In that way, IT-professionals at all levels are ensured of practice-oriented, high-quality training and certification to meet the changing needs of the industry.
For many years both BCS-ISEB and EXIN have worked closely with industry experts, training providers and publishers. The alliance encourages the use of internationally recognized standards, frameworks and methodologies such as ITIL, ISO/IEC 20000, SQM, MOF, ASL, BiSL, CobiT, CMMI, Six Sigma and SFIA.

About BCS-ISEB and EXIN
BCS-ISEB and EXIN have an outstanding record of delivering examination and qualification programs IT professionals. Both organizations have extensive portfolios which aim to meet the needs of individuals and industry through education. In the last 20 years BCS-ISEB and EXIN cooperated in the ITIL- Certification Management Board, and have been the driving force in developing the ITIL-based certification program.

BCS-ISEB
BCS is the industry body for IT professionals and a Chartered Engineering Institute for Information Technology. BCS is responsible for setting standards for the IT profession. It is also leading the change in public perception and appreciation of the economic and social importance of professionally managed IT projects and programmes. Our vision is to see the IT profession recognized as being a profession the highest integrity and competence. The BCS, working with many international partners, is leading major worldwide programme to improve the overall standards of the IT profession that align to a true skills architecture and lead to a Chartered IT Professional status. This will be the gold standard for IT professionals around the world. Standards in IT competency across the globe are a critical part of this work, and nowhere is this more important than in the area IT Service Management.

EXIN
EXIN, Examination Institute for Information Science, is an independent, worldwide IT examination provider. It is EXIN's mission to guarantee the quality of the ICT sector and the ICT professionals working in this sector by means of high quality, internationally recognized certification programs, assessments and certificates. EXIN has been successful in the ITIL-based IT Service Management certification in the international market. EXIN has developed the I-Tracks framework for qualification a broad range of IT professions. To date, EXIN has already certified more than 350,000 IT professionals worldwide and delivers computerised and web based testing to ICT professionals in over ten languages.


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For more information please contact:
-BCS-ISEB, telephone + 44 (0) 1793 417530 e-mail: isebenq@hq.bcs.org.uk
-EXIN International, +31 (0) 30 234 48 25 e-mail: info@exin-exams.com / www.exin-exams.com
_____________________________________________________________________________


Industry Opinion and Support for the Alliance between BCS-ISEB and EXIN

Craig Pattison - Director of Certification and Qualifications - itSMF-International
‘itSMF-International is committed to supporting and will continue to support best practice in IT Service Management, including but not limited to ITIL Refresh project and to ITSM qualifications and standards.’

Sharon Taylor - President - Institute of Certified Service Management
‘ISEB and EXIN have long been synonymous with world leadership in quality education and certification in the IT industry. The ICSM is pleased to see EXIN and ISEB form this alliance and the opportunity to further evolve IT professional certifications toward a common standard of excellence.’

Phil Montanaro - President - Institute of Service Management
‘This MoU can only be good news for all IT professionals working in the field of Service Management.
Any alliance between such highly respected organisations, with a wealth of proven experience in delivering credible education and certification programmes, will provide valuable synergy and impetus to facilitate the evolution of the IT profession. As another organisation committed to promoting professionalism, the Institute of IT Service Management is delighted to support this initiative.’

Vernon Lloyd - International Client Director - Fox IT
‘The BCS-ISEB and EXIN working closer together and combining their strengths will be beneficial for the industry. Working together will ensure consistency and clarity for training providers and customers as a whole.’

Porter Sherman - US contributing author to OGC ITIL publications
‘As a member of itSMF, a contributing author to OGC ITIL publications and an experienced IT Service Management practitioner, I am concerned about the future of Service Management given recent events.
It is important from the industry’s perspective that we have a unified direction with agreed standards, qualifications & professional certifications. It is my opinion that the EXIN & ISEB initiative will move us closer to that objective.’

Bryan Shoe - ITIL Manager - itSMF Accredited ISO/IEC 20000 Consultant
‘EXIN and ISEB have played a major role in the recent expansion of IT Service Management through their advocacy and support for the IT Service Management Community. I am pleased to know that EXIN’s and ISEB’s recent decision to cooperatively continue to support the global IT Service Management community will not deprive practitioners of the experience and quality that both EXIN and ISEB have delivered to the global IT Service Management practitioners. I look forward to the continued support from EXIN and ISEB as advocates engaged in support of global IT Service Management’ practitioners.

Kai Probst - CEO - TÜV SÜD Academy
‘Alliance and partnership is one way business is done today. An extraordinary market position / relation was set up with EXIN in the field of ITIL® during the last four years. Today more than 25,000 examinations are realized per year at TÜV SÜD Academy – Personnel Certification Body. In the German speaking countries (Germany, Switzerland and Austria) more than 300 training institutes use this examination service of the TÜV SÜD Academy as an independent body. We are pleased to partner and to support this new alliance in the future in order to ensure quality in the increasing market of certification.’

Ian W. Daykin - Managing Director - CSME
‘In support of the increasing US interest in IT and ITSM, CSME is committed to continuing its longstanding relationship with BCS-ISEB in order to take advantage of their vast experience in ITSM and other relevant IT qualifications and certifications. The drive for IT professionalism that BCS/ISEB has been driving for a number of years exemplifies the focus and drive for high quality qualifications that is their hallmark. CSME are confident that this alliance will promote the commitment to quality for all qualifications.’

Julia Chapelle - Director - Loyalist College Canada
‘Since 2001, Loyalist Certification Services, a division of Loyalist College, has enjoyed a successful partnership with EXIN to deliver IT Service Management certifications in North America. During this time, Loyalist has seen the quality of the EXIN IT Service Management certifications continuously improve. This improvement is a result of a commitment to communication with and the involvement of the global IT Service Management Community. EXIN’s strength is reaching a global market and responding to their unique needs. An alliance between BCS-ISEB and EXIN will be a positive coalition to continue this type of growth and development.’

Joan Øxby - Deputy CEO - DANSK IT
‘DANSK IT welcomes the ISEB-EXIN alliance as a platform for strengthening the continuous supply of educations and certification programmes for IT professionals and to assure the development of a coherent and recognized portfolio of qualifications for Information Service Managers. The initiative only confirms the relevance for DANSK IT in being the Danish BCS-partner.’