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ACS News

ACS staff, Information Age

25/04/2001 17:11:49

ACS Board Director takes up Microsoft Chair at Macquarie University Professor Vijay Varadharajan, director of the ACS Computer Science Board, has been appointed the inaugural Microsoft Chair for Innovation in Computing at Macquarie University.

The Microsoft Chair, established after a $1.2 million investment from Microsoft, forms the foundation stone of the university's new Centre for Innovation in Computing and draws on the university's strengths in advanced systems engineering, artificial intelligence, advanced instrumentation and human communications.

In his new role Vijay will focus his research on networked computing security and a broad range of related subjects.

A world-renowned expert in security systems with over 20 years experience in Australia and overseas, Vijay was previously Head of School of Computer and Information Technology and director of Distributed Systems and Network Security Research at University of Western Sydney, Nepean.

"There is a real vacuum in blue sky research around network computing security and I believe this Chair will help to fill the void," said Professor Varadharajan.

"My areas of research will be e-commerce security, with research into secure electronic payment and applications of cryptography, distributed systems security, mobile systems security and network security concerns such as security layers for LAN, WAN, Broadband Networks," he said.

ACS Annual General Meeting

Members are invited to attend the 9th Annual General Meeting of the ACS, which will be held at 6.00pm on Tuesday, May 22 at the Carillon Room, Hotel Sofitel, 25 Collins Street, Melbourne.

The business of the meeting is to receive and consider the Annual Report for 2000 (which incorporates the Statement of Accounts and Balance Sheets and the Auditor's Report).

ACS introduces Education Across the NationThe ACS Professional Development Board has staged its first Education Across the Nation (EATN) event with the "Will the World Go Wireless?" interactive forums held in February.

This event was a great success with hundreds of ACS Members and their colleagues participating in state-based forums held on or around 21 February all over Australia. The ACS PD Board plans to hold quarterly events of this kind to add significant value for Members in terms of professional development and networking opportunities.

The second EATN forum will be held in May, looking at the topic, "What's Knowledge Management Got To Do With IT?"

Subjects for discussion will include:

What's KM trying to manage?

How early adopters are faring

Where's the business value in KM?

Lessons learned from KM initiatives

What's the role for IT professionals?

How to get started

Presentations will be held in each region on the following dates: ACT: 16 May, NT: 17 May, VIC: 22 May, NSW, TAS, SA, WA & QLD: 23 May.

For more information, contact our local ACS Branch or e-mail ptaylor@qld.acs.org.auACS and IEAust join forces to progress software engineeringThe ACS has collaborated with the Institution of Engineers, Australia, (IEAust) to establish a Joint Board in Software Engineering to help streamline the accreditation of university courses and raise professional standards.

The board held its inaugural meeting in late March, saying the partnership has the potential to put Australia ahead of similar initiatives in the USA and to enhance Australia's competitive position by matching our cost advantage with the highest professional and industry standards.

ACS President John Ridge said the board will seek to more clearly define professional standards for software engineers as well as establishing common procedures for the certification and registration of experienced practitioners.

"Software engineering is a sophisticated and demanding discipline which requires practitioners to exercise the highest levels of design, methodology, testing and quality control," he said.

"The demands on software engineers have grown significantly in recent years in light of the increasing reliance on safety critical systems where human lives are at risk, such as in air traffic control, satellite communications or areas of national security. However, professional standards are also of major importance in many other sectors like retail, banking, industry and entertainment," he said.

According to IEAust chief executive officer John Boshier, "The opportunity for software engineering to be included on the National Professional Engineers Register (NPER) would further promote excellence in quality assurance across the industry, within Australia and overseas.

"The efficient and safe operation of many products, physical structures and systems for community facilities are now dependent upon computers to bring them to life.

"The IEAust is totally supportive of ensuring that all aspects of the package of engineering disciplines associated with developing and delivering new products and community infrastructure are of the highest possible professional standards," Boshier said.

Universities to benefit

Associate Professor Alan Underwood, the ACS representative who will chair the board for the next 12 months, said the university sector would benefit significantly from plans to implement joint accreditation procedures for tertiary courses.

"Up until now, both IEAust and the ACS have separately accredited university programs relating to software engineering. One of the first responsibilities of the joint board will be to develop joint criteria and common procedures to enable universities to achieve dual accreditation through a single, streamlined process," he said.

Government welcomes joint initiative

The creation of the joint board was welcomed by the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Senator Richard Alston, who commended the two professional bodies on their commitment to setting and maintaining standards.

"I am delighted to see professional bodies like the ACS and IEAust working together to progress the quality and reputation of our software engineering sector," Senator Alston said.

"ICT professionals like software engineers are at the forefront of innovation and play a key role in Australia's ability to produce creative and practical software applications. This initiative will help to further the standard of software engineering in Australia and enhance our international reputation as a leader in this field.

The six-member Joint Board comprises some of Australia's leading experts in the field of software engineering, three each from IEAust and the ACS.

The IEAust representatives are Professor Leon Sterling (University of Melbourne), Dr Andrew Lucas (Agent Oriented Software) and Dr Peter Parr (Director, Education and Assessment, IEAust).

The ACS is represented by Assoc. Professor Alan Underwood (QLD University of Technology), Dr Rob Holgate (Computer Sciences Corporation) and Assoc. Professor Karl Reed (Director, ACS Software Engineering Board).

A photograph of Senator Alston with Alan Underwood and John Boshier is available at http://www.acs.org.au/news/280301.htm ACS launches IT careers portalThe ACS has launched an IT careers portal www.itcareers.acs.org.au to improve access to information about IT-related courses and careers.

Designed to fill the information gap for students, parents, teachers, career counsellors and people either within or outside the industry who are considering a career change, the portal describes over 100 IT-related jobs ranging from business analyst or computer engineer through to Web architect or sales and marketing roles, along with the qualifications and personal qualities required for each positionACS President John Ridge said the Society recognised the need for a central, up-to-date repository capable of providing visitors with the full gamut of IT career-related information.

"In a sector as fast-changing and complex as IT, it's hard enough for people working inside the industry to keep in touch with what's happening. Students and people outside the industry have a far more difficult job trying to find out what they need to know to prepare them for one of the many possible IT careers.

"This portal will be a work in progress. The ACS has a commitment to keeping the site current and relevant, and will add new information as it becomes available, as well as providing links to other, complementary industry, government and education sites that add value in this area," he said.

ACS South Australian Branch Chair and IT Careers Portal project manager Brenda Aynsley drew on expertise from industry, educators and professional communicators to ensure that the site is effective in meeting the needs of those considering an IT career.

"The portal offers detailed information about university programs, vocational education and training (VET) courses and vendor training programs, complemented by hotlinks to all the major offerings, as well as links to government programs like JobSearch and the Australian Careers Directory.

"We've provided information about professional standards within the IT industry, the latest job and salary statistics, advice on how to land that first job, and links to online recruitment agencies, as well as links to the online IT sections of the major daily newspapers for information on industry developments and changing market conditions," said Ms Aynsley.

The ACS invites organisations with relevant information or complementary sites to contact Brenda Aynsley on bpa@iss.net.au or (08) 8357 8844.

Get your tickets for the Independence Ball 2001One of the highlights of the IT calendar, the Independence Ball is a gala charity event, aimed at IT professionals and IT supporters, which seeks to raise funds for Technical Aid to the Disabled (NSW). TAD is a registered charity that provides computers and associated technology to help people with disabilities to become more independent.

Now in its fourth successful year, the Independence Ball will be held on Thursday, May 17 at Sports Central, Fox Studios in Sydney. Tickets are just $88 (inc. GST) which includes pre-dinner drinks, cocktail-style food with alcohol, unlimited rides and games and the Enormous Horns dance band. The theme for this year's event is Silver and, as in previous years, a silent auction of quality merchandise will be conducted.

Proudly sponsored by Sports Central Fox Studios, KAZ Computer Services, Compuware, and The Australian Financial Review, The Independence Ball is presented by TAD and the NSW Branch of the ACS.

By attending the ball, you will be directly helping people with disabilities become independent through technology! For more information or to book your tickets, call Julijana Trifunovic on (02) 9808 2022 or e-mail jtrifunovic@technicalaid.org.au ICT Action Plan welcomedThe ACS has welcomed the release by the NSW government of its ICT Action Plan to boost skills for the information society.

ACS President John Ridge said the $50 million Action Plan represented a clear recognition by the government of the enormous potential of the ICT industries to contribute to the state's economic wealth, and of the need to ensure people have the skills to create and use new technologies.

"We commend this administration on its willingness to partner with industry to address the current shortage of ICT skills while seeking to equip the broader population to take advantage of technological developments," he said.

The 10-point plan was developed by the ICT Industry Skills Consultative Group - a representative body formed out of last year's ICT Skills Forum - which includes ACS Chief Executive Dennis Furini.

"This Action Plan is a valuable first step in the developing relationship between the NSW government and the ICT industries," said Furini.

"While opinions vary as to the size and breadth of the ICT skills shortage, there is clearly a critical need to ensure that NSW continues to produce people with the knowledge and skills needed to take this state forward.

"This initiative targets the full spectrum of groups across the NSW community, including seniors, woman, rural communities, ethnic and indigenous groups and the disadvantaged. The government should be commended for this approach because of the growing need for everyone to have basic computer skills in order to exist in society today.

"We look forward over the next few years to seeing the benefits of this initiative as it continues to develop," he said.