News from the profession

A summary of current CICA projects and initiatives
 
First IT Alliance accreditation goes to HEC Montréal MBA program

CICA’s Alliance for Excellence in Information Technology (IT Alliance) has accredited the IT management track of HEC Montréal’s MBA program to provide the prerequisite education for becoming a CA designated IT specialist (CA·IT). This is the first academic program to receive IT Alliance accreditation. CAs who successfully complete the IT management track MBA and meet the IT Alliance’s ethical and experience requirements will earn the CA·IT designation.

“CA·ITs bridge the gap between technology and management by bringing a business-oriented approach to IT strategy and implementation, and by applying business acumen, strategic insight and understanding of IT to help organizations succeed,” says Deryck Williams, FCA, CA·IT and chair of the IT Alliance. “The IT management track of HEC Montréal’s MBA program has earned the IT Alliance accreditation because it addresses all the educational requirements that are part of the prerequisite to becoming a CA·IT.”

HEC Montréal’s program helps develop the six key competency areas required of CA·ITs:

• business information technology strategic planning 
• business information technology architecture 
• business process enablement
• system development, acquisition, implementation and project management
• information systems management
• system reliability

In addition to completing the IT track of the MBA program, applicants for the CA·IT designation must have at least three years experience as chartered accountants and 1,500 hours or more of work in information technology. After receiving their specialist designation, CA·ITs must meet ongoing annual requirements to stay current in the field.

“The IT Alliance is thrilled with HEC Montréal’s leadership in making the education toward a CA·IT designation accessible to students,” says J. Efrim Boritz, FCA, CA·IT/CISA and co-chair of the alliance’s education committee. “We look forward to a productive collaboration with HEC Montréal and other educational institutions in the development and expansion of the CA·IT designation.”

For information on how to become a CA·IT or about the IT Alliance, please go to www.cica.ca/IT.

The French website is:  www.icca.ca/TI.

Standards Digest