A SWINDON-based IT institute has begun an international partnership with a Jamaican group.

BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT has joined forces with the Jamaica Technology and Digital Alliance to provide the latter group's members with global perspectives about their profession as well as opportunities for continuous development and access to internationally recognised qualifications and professional registrations in IT.

The partnership will provide existing BCS members in the Caribbean with stronger links to their jobs locally through networks, groups and events and will enable the group’s UK and international members to get a better understanding of opportunities in the Caribbean’s technology sector.

BCS president John Higgins said: “This latest agreement demonstrates a commitment to a common definition of professionalism.

"This is a significant step in promoting the value and importance of the profession and further enhances the industry’s reputation.

"Bodies like ours are ideally placed to make the case that society must demand the highest standards of professionalism from its digital practitioners – it’s a cornerstone in helping to build public trust in digital.”

BCS supports IT professionals throughout their careers, helping them to demonstrate, maintain and develop their skills and knowledge.

The institute say sthere is strong alignment between its vision and that of the JTDA which forms a solid foundation for the partnership.

As the UK’s professional body for IT and the digital industries, BCS aims to promote and advance the education and practice of computing for the benefit of society as a whole.

This means building a competent and ethical profession which is diverse, inclusive and plentiful in talent at all levels, and developing a society which has access to all the technology knowledge and skills needed.

Establishing a partnership with JDTA supports these goals by helping to build the professional community in a fast-growing and dynamic digital economy, which is increasingly becoming a source of international talent and inward investment.

JDTA president Stacey Hines, said: “We are excited to be official partners with BCS. There is a desire in the Caribbean for recognition of professionalism in IT and we are pleased that our members will be able to join members of BCS.

"Membership is a great way to demonstrate the professionalism of our members to their employers and enhance the reputation of the IT profession in Jamaica.

"The partnership means that our members will have access to learning and careers support as well as resources to keep their knowledge up to date."