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Accreditation

"Accreditation of a computer science or software engineering program demonstrates the quality of the degree and of the environment in which it is offered, and provides a useful benchmark for ongoing program development."

Dr. Peter King, I.S.P.
Director of Accreditation

CIPS has established the Computer Science Accreditation Council (CSAC), the Information Systems and Technology Accreditation Council (ISTAC) and the Special Projects Accreditation Council (SPAC) as autonomous bodies. These are the lead councils in CIPS that review and accredit Canadian publicly funded baccalaureate programs in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Management Information Systems, Computer Systems Technology, Applied Information Technology, and Post-Diploma type programs at the college-level. The Councils are responsible for the development of accreditation criteria, selection of program evaluators, and ultimately the granting of the accreditation status. The accreditation process is voluntary.

The general purpose of the Councils is to advance the development and practice of computing disciplines in the public interest through the enhancement of quality programs in computing.

A standard level of professional knowledge among all IT professionals relies on standard education approaches and curricula. CIPS accreditation is a non-governmental autonomous process for assessment of educational programs against industry accepted standards. It provides a professional judgement about the quality of the educational program and encourages continued improvement. It provides an indication for the public at large that a program accredited by CIPS is capable of producing graduates who can function at the required level of competence to enter the industry job market.

Accreditation:

	Promotes and advances all phases of computer and information science education with the aim of promoting public welfare through the development of better-educated computer professionals.
	Fosters a cooperative approach to computer and information science education between industry, government, and educators to meet the changing needs of society.
	Provides a credible, independently verifiable method to differentiate accredited programs from non-accredited programs that may not adhere to important industry standards.
	Signifies that a program has a purpose appropriate to higher education and has resources and services sufficient to accomplish its purpose on a continuing basis.
	Provides an opportunity to the educational institution for improvement and self analysis, and shows a commitment to continuous improvement.

Information:

CIPS Secretariat
2800 Skymark Avenue, Suite 402
Mississauga , Ontario L4W 5A6
accreditation@cips.ca

CIPS is a Member of the Association of Accrediting Agencies of Canada