IT, Digital and Computing Profession
The Revell Research Systems Prize recognises excellence in computing, digital technology and
information systems at the University of Plymouth. It has been established not simply to celebrate
academic achievement, but to encourage graduates to think about the kind of professionals
they aspire to become. In a world increasingly shaped by digital technologies, society needs
more than technical experts. It needs trusted professionals whose knowledge, judgement and
integrity can be relied upon.
Professional Responsibility in the Digital Age
As a graduate entering the profession, you will have opportunities to influence how organisations
operate, how people access services and how technology shapes everyday life. The systems you
design, develop, manage or advise upon may affect thousands, perhaps millions, of people.
With such influence comes responsibility. The most successful careers are not built on technical
competence alone, but on a commitment to professionalism, accountability and ethical practice.
The digital profession faces challenges that previous generations could scarcely have imagined.
Artificial intelligence, cyber security, data ethics, privacy, digital inclusion and sustainability
all raise important questions about the role of technology in society. Increasingly, organisations
and the public are looking for professionals who can be trusted to navigate these challenges
with wisdom, integrity and sound professional judgement.
Professional Registration and Chartership
For this reason, Revell Research Systems
encourages graduates to see professional registration as an important part of their career
journey. Registration as a Chartered IT Professional (CITP)
or Chartered Engineer (CEng) demonstrates far more
than technical knowledge. It signifies a commitment to high standards of competence, ethical
conduct, professional responsibility and continuous professional development. Chartered status
is not simply a qualification or a title. It is a public statement about the standards to
which you hold yourself and the trust that others can place in your work.
One of the most valuable steps you can take at the beginning of that journey is to become
actively involved in your professional community. If you are not already a member of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
(BCS), or the Institution of Analysts and Programmers
(IAP), we strongly encourage
you to join at least one of them. BCS is
the body responsible under its Royal Charter for computing and information technology matters
in the United Kingdom and maintains the registers of Chartered IT Professionals and Registered
IT Technicians. The IAP, while
not itself a chartered body, is a long-established professional organisation dedicated to
software developers and software engineering professionals.
Joining the Professional Community
As a recent graduate, you are likely to be eligible for Associate Membership
(AMBCS)
of BCS or Graduate Membership
(GradIAP)
of the IAP. If you have already
gained relevant professional experience, you are likely to qualify for Professional Membership
(MBCS) of
BCS, while those with appropriate experience
may qualify for Associate Membership (AMIAP)
of the IAP. Membership of a professional
body is much more than a badge of affiliation. It is a declaration of professional intent
and an investment in your future development.
Active membership also provides opportunities that many employers are unable to offer. Through
committees, specialist groups, conferences, mentoring programmes, volunteer roles and professional
networks, you can develop the leadership, communication, influencing and organisational skills
that are essential for long-term career success. These are often the capabilities that distinguish
future professional leaders from competent practitioners. If your ambition is to reach the
highest levels of the profession, active engagement with a professional body can accelerate
your growth while enabling you to contribute to the advancement of the profession itself.
Looking Towards Chartered Status
The pathway to chartership begins much earlier than many people realise. It starts with the
decisions you make as a graduate, the standards you set for yourself and the commitment
you make to continuous learning. We hope that recent graduates will regard themselves as future
chartered professionals from the outset. Whether your career takes you into software engineering,
cyber security, systems development, digital transformation, data science, consultancy or
entrepreneurship, the principles of professionalism, competence and ethical practice remain
the same.
We also hope that you will recognise the importance of acting in the public interest. The
technologies developed today will shape the society of tomorrow. Future generations will depend
upon digital systems that are secure, reliable, fair and trustworthy. The professionals who
create those systems must be equally trustworthy. The public deserves nothing less.
Each year, during Chartered Week,
chartered professionals from across the United Kingdom come together to celebrate the value
of professional registration and the contribution that trusted professionals make to society.
Chartered Week promotes competence, ethics, leadership and accountability, while encouraging
aspiring professionals to explore their own Chartered potential.
As you begin your career, we invite you to imagine yourself a few years from now: a respected
Chartered IT Professional or Chartered Engineer, recognised for both your expertise and your
integrity, and celebrating your achievement alongside fellow chartered professionals from
every discipline imaginable during Chartered Week.
A chartered professional with parity with every other chartered practitioner.
- Your degree is the foundation.
- Your professional development is the journey.
- Chartership is the destination.
Revell Research Systems challenges you to begin that journey today.
