Enterprise management solutions provider BMC Software has collaborated with Singapore’s tertiary institution, Republic Polytechnic, to formulate a new academic program that will certify students with an Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) diploma.
A first of its kind in Singapore, the Diploma in IT Service Management (DSM), gives Republic Polytechnic students hands-on learning experience in a real-world data centre environment. Students will use BMC Software’s Remedy Service Management applications in Republic Polytechnic’s new ITSM Practice Laboratory to measure and maintain IT service levels, as well as discover, understand, model, respond, and track IT system problems and business service failures. The program provides scenarios for students to directly experience how IT can be continually managed and coordinated to provide better service and support to the business.
“At Republic Polytechnic, we aim to create an environment for our students to learn through problem solving, obtaining a positive life-long learning attitude with ready-to-use knowledge when they graduate. The collaboration with BMC gives our students the opportunity to have hands-on knowledge of world-class IT service management technology so they are ready for the real world, fast paced industry when they graduate,” said Professor Low Teck Seng, Principal and Chief Executive Officer, Republic Polytechnic.
The introduction of this academic program is a direct result of the recent shortage Singapore and the Asian Pacific region has been facing with highly skilled IT service management professionals. According to Infocomm Development Authority’s (IDA) annual survey on Infocomm manpower in 2006, IT Services has one of the highest compound annual growth rates at 6.8 percent for 2007 to 2008, the second largest employment group of infocomm manpower in Singapore.
“Indeed we are seeing increasing demand for ITSM related skills by our customers, both in Singapore and the region. The IT industry has evolved from simply a pure hardware or pure software market. In order to remain competitive, organizations need to focus on their core expertise while outsourcing the other business needs as “services”. The IT industry requires professionals who are well equipped to use best practices and established methodologies that are applied innovatively to the projects and situations that are before them. This allows them to be differentiated but yet compliant to the highest standards.” said Dr. Chong Yoke Sin, CEO, NCS Group.
Dr. Chong went on tell journalists at the formal launch of this program early this week that currently, organisation are carrying out ITSM related training in-house with their staff but hopes that with the new course, companies will be able to hire highly trained, market-ready employees.
As part of the program, students will be introduced to IT best practices, such as the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) and BMC’s Business Service Management (BSM) approach.
BMC solutions are based on ITIL best practices, a growing discipline in Singapore and around the globe. Fueled by the increasing business demand on IT to provide better support for businesses and organizations, ITIL provides best practice guidelines to create an efficient and service-oriented IT infrastructure. BSM, BMC’s industry-leading approach to putting ITIL best practices into action, helps organizations manage the increasing complexity of IT infrastructure while supporting business priorities and providing cost savings.
“We are pleased to partner with an innovative educational institution like Republic Polytechnic to narrow the skills gap and meet the demand for skilled IT Service Management professionals,” said Chip Salyards, Director of Sales, ESM, BMC Software.
“By training with BMC’s Remedy ITSM, Republic Polytechnic students will use the world’s most broadly deployed and fastest growing ITSM solution. With exposure to real world scenarios and best practices, such as ITIL, the students will be well-positioned for job placement upon their graduation.”
The course, which started its run in April 2006 has some 50 students in the first year and another 50 in their second year. Republic Polytechnic is expecting at least 100 students to sign up for the next intake in 2008. . The first batch of students will be graduating in March 2009.
NCS, a BMC Premier partner specializing in IT service management, will be managing the implementation of the BMC Remedy ITSM solution at Republic Polytechnic. |
