Certificate for Information Technology Officials (CITO)

Online Education based on Hands-On Workshops for Developing Countries 
 

The Certificate for IT Officials (ITOs) is being offered to specifically address the unique challenges of public and private sector ITOs in developing countries. This Program will enable current and aspiring ITOs (e.g., CIOs, directors, project managers, development managers, IT planners, enterprise architects, systems analysts, and business analysts) to develop the skills and knowledge needed to manage the demands of their complex roles. The student can also optionally earn recognized credentials (e.g., an MS degree from a recognized university).  

Unique Features of the Program

·         Based on the United Nations eNabler Project that is addressing the major challenges faced by the developing countries and other underserved segments (e.g., IT project failure rates of around 85%, and lack of educational and financial resources).

·         Instead of the typical lecture model, relies heavily on hands-on experiments with a computer aided environment for ITOs, called SPACE, that has been developed to address the aforementioned challenges.

·         Emphasis is on how to do more with less  by using the best practices and tools throughout the Learn-Plan-Do-Check cycle. 

·         Heavily relies on real life case studies and examples to assure mastery of ITO skills  in addressing practical problems. The case studies are based on real life situations from different countries for global insights.

·         Most of the learning comes from hands-on experiments with business games, simulations, decision support tools, and an extensive ePlanner – all part of the SPACE environment.  

·         Each course requires one project that the attendee first solves by hand, then through the SPACE environment, and finally a self-assessment for practical insights. 

·         All attendees will collaborate with each other  through a social network for an enriching experience.

 

Program Highlights

·         The courses are priced for developing countries and the student can get academic credit from an accredited university (e.g., Harrisburg University -- HU). These courses can also be used towards an MS degree in ISEM (Information Systems Engineering and Management) from HU.  See www.harrisburgu.edu/academics/graduate/isem.php for details.

·         SPACE (Strategic Planning, Architectures, Controls & Education) environment  will be made available to all students for hands-on learning plus real problem solutions.  See www.space4ict.com for details. 

 

Administrative Details ·         CITO Program Courses:  ·         - Course C1: Strategic Planning, Architecture and Management for eGovernment and eBusiness ·         - Course C2: Enterprise Architecture and Integration for eGovernment and eBusiness ·         - Course C3: IT Management in the Digital Age ·         Academic Credit: The student will get academic graduate credit from  Harrisburg University (HU) for a Course (C1, C2, or C3).        ·         Qualifications for CITO Program: Candidates must have a minimum of 2 years of work experience in information technology and a Bachelor’s degree with courses in information technology. Students with insufficient IT background can take an intensive hands-on  “bridge” course (C0) on IT Principles to fill the gap.

Program Overview

 

This Online Program is intended to educate IT Officials (ITOs) in the public as well as private sectors especially in the developing countries. The Program consists of a series of short online courses that emphasize the use of emerging technologies in eGovernment and eBusiness. Comprehensive online resources will be used for hands-on experiments and investigations. The attendees will be able to lead the eGovernment and eBusiness initiatives by using the extensive resources provided by the Online Program.

 

Key Features of the Program

§  All courses are offered completely online. In-Class and Hybrid delivery methods will be made available on demand.  

§  The CITO Program consists of three courses  (C1, C2, C3) and each course (40 hours of instruction) must be completed within four months after  enrollment.

·         We are initially offering three courses  (C1, C2, C3). More courses will be added gradually to cover MS in ISEM from HU.

Overview of the Program

The following framework illustrates the key building blocks of the certified ITO program.

·         Core IT service functions, such as business processes, applications, and computing-communication platforms represent the basic building blocks of modern enterprises and are shown as horizontal organizational layers.

·         Interdisciplinary, cross-cutting management practices and governance activities such as communications, planning, management, and security enable and support the horizontal layers (IT service functions) and are emphasized in the CITO program.

 

The curriculum addresses this framework by using examples, case studies, and best practices. 

·         The first course (C1) sets the context by introducing the program and providing an overview of the entire framework using examples of eGovernment and eBusiness from around the globe. It primarily concentrates on the horizontal layers (IT service functions).

·         The other two courses (C2 and C3) concentrate on vertical layers that cut across all horizontal layers. C2 concentrates on the very important area of enterprise architectures and integration issues at global levels. C3 covers the governance, project management and security aspects of eBusiness and eGovernment. 

 

 

Common Vision CITO Program has been prepared by the NGE Solutions Team in collaboration with Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) and UN-GAID[1]. We share a common vision – bridge the digital divide through education and technology. Collaborations with other academic institutions, international organizations, government agencies, NGOs and private industries are being explored.