ISO/IEC 15504 News

Scheme News

MEMBERSHIP OF THE SCHEME

Following approval of a revision in the By Laws the International Registration Scheme is now accepting membership into the Scheme. The membership help to supports and further develop the Scheme to meet industry needs.

The membership categories comprise of

• Accredited Training Providers
• Accredited Training Course Providers
• Registered Assessors
• Assessment/Certification Bodies
• Regional Certification Bodies (IntRSA)
• Country Groups
• Standardisation Bodies
• Standardisation Committees
• Communities of Interest
• User Groups
• Sponsoring Organisations
• Academic Bodies and Institutes
• Government and Public Authorities
• Industry

INTERNATIONAL REGISTRATION SCHEME FOR ASSESSORS (IntRSA)

The International Registration Scheme for Assessors (IntRSA) further extends its international base with the appointment of gasq - Global Association for Software Quality - as its representative in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The International Registration Scheme for Assessors (IntRSA) is also represented by gasq on a non exclusive basis in France, Spain, and Southern Europe (from Croatia east including Turkey, Russia).

INTERNATIONAL REGISTRATION SCHEME FOR ASSESSORS (IntRSA)

The International Assessor Certification Scheme (INTACS) has changed its name to the International Registration Scheme for Assessors (IntRSA).

Due to the confusion arising in the market place by the continuing use by the International Software Quality Institute (ISQI) of the Scheme's database of registered assessors following the expiration of license agreements, and with the formation of an INTACS Foundation, the Scheme's Board has changed the name of the Scheme to the International Registration Scheme for Assessors (IntRSA)in order to distance itself from these activities. The name change also better reflects the designation of the Scheme as a 'registration' scheme for assessors.

The Scheme has also taken the opportunity to widen its representation through the establishment of a new Governing Board with international representation from inter alia Accredited Training Providers, Accredited Training Course Providers, Registered Assessors, Assessment/Certification Bodies, Regional Certification Bodies (IntRSA), Country Groups, Standardization Bodies, Standardization Committees, Communities of Interest, User Groups, Academic Bodies and Institutes, Sponsoring Organizations, Government and Public Authorities and Industry.

The following are background facts to the establishment of the Scheme

1. In August 2002 the International Assessor Certification Scheme (INTACS) was established by The SPICE User Group superseding the Certified SPICE Assessor Programme that was previously administered by QAI. All training providers and registered assessors transferred into the Scheme.

2.In September 2003 the INTACS Scheme was licensed to ASQF for the purpose of hosting, administering and managing the Scheme.

3. In April 2005 The SPICE User Group gave 6 months formal notice of the termination of the license agreement due to the lack of confidence by the Board in the administration and management of the Scheme by ASQF/ISQI.

4. In May 2005 ASQF formally acknowledged the notice of termination of the agreement and the complaints brought against ASQF/ISQI.

5. In May 2005 The SPICE User Group licensed the Scheme to the Institute of IT Training (a Division of the National Computing Centre in the UK) for the purpose of administering and managing the Scheme.

6. In January 2006 The SPICE User Group terminated with immediate effect all agreements with ASQF/ISQI regarding the INTACS Scheme.

7. In January 2006 The SPICE User Group formally transferred ownership of the International Assessor Certification Scheme to the Institute of IT Training (a Division of the National Computing Centre in the UK).

SCHEME ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

The Institute of IT Training (IITT), a Division of the National Computing Centre Ltd (NCC) has taken over full responsibility for the Scheme following the expiration of license agreements with ASQF (the International Software Quality Institute (ISQI)). All certification enquiries should be directed to the IITT using the contact information on the web site.

REVISED SCHEME CRITERIA and FEES

The INTACS Board meeting on 24 May 2005 approved revised scheme criteria for assessor certification and for accreditation of training courses and training providers. The revised scheme criteria are available from the download area. To align with the revised Scheme criteria INTACS has revised the associated fee schedules. The revised Scheme criteria and fee schedules are applicable from 1 June 2005. The accreditation and certification brochures will be revised only when re-printed.

SCHEME ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT

The Institute of IT Training (IITT), a Division of the National Computing Centre Ltd (NCC) is to host the International Assessor Certification Scheme (INTACS). The Scheme certifies as competent assessors trained and qualified in the principles and practices of assessing processes using ISO/IEC 15504, the international standard for Process Assessment.

Bernd Hindel, from the International Software Quality Institute (ISQI), emphasizes‘this is an important step for the further take-up and internationalization of INTACS. ISQI looks forward to working closely with the IITT in the Scheme’s further development’.

The International Assessor Certification Scheme complements the Institute's portfolio of certification schemes that include the Competency Frameworks for Training skills, Open Source skills, and e-Government Interoperability skills; it also recognizes and re-enforces the Institute's status as an international certification body.

The INTACS governing Board will operate under IITT’s general regulations for Certification Schemes. The governing Board includes international representation from certification bodies, training bodies, assessors, professional bodies, industry representatives and The SPICE User Group. INTACS will work closely with representatives from key sectors such as space, automotive and medical to ensure the Scheme meets their needs.

Alec Dorling, convener of the ISO 15504 (SPiCE) standardization group and a Director of The SPICE User Group, is pleased that IITT has taken on responsibility for the management of the Scheme. The Institute of IT Training is widely recognized for its professional approach and will ensure that the INTACS scheme is run to high professional standards. The Institute of IT Training has recently been awarded the UK’s most prestigious business accolade – the Queen’s Award for Enterprise - for its pioneering Trainer Assessment Programme (TAP®).