The global skills and competency framework for the digital world

SFIA and Japanese IT Promotion Agency (IPA)

Exciting collaboration between SFIA and iCD

SFIA JIPA MoU Signing

In September 2017 the SFIA Foundation and the Japanese IT Promotion Agency (IPA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).  Mr Adam Thilthorpe, SFIA Foundation Chairman and Dr. Tatsuo Tomita, IPA Chairman both expressed their enthusiasm for this collaboration.

The MoU sets out the intent of the SFIA Foundation and the Japanese IT Promotion Agency to collaborate to promote the development of skills and capability within the IT community; and to further the aims of each body, thus bringing greater benefits to their stakeholders and the global IT industry as a whole.

  • Introduce the joint use of iCD andf SFIA within Japan and Japanese companies operating internationally.
  • Work together to establish a mapping of the two frameworks.
  • Support to translations of key framework docuiments.
  • Share SFIA adoption advice to iCD community.
  • To influence the future direction of the SFIA Foundation and Framework.
  • Share information for the future development of the frameworks.
  • Identify opportunities for further collabotation.

To find out more contact:

Phased approach to mapping:

The mapping of the two frameworks is being carried out by IPA and a phased approach is being  undertaken:

  • iCD-SFIA Mapping Project - Phase 1 looks at the underlying principles, generics and structure of the two frameworks 
  • Subsequent phases will begin to map iCD Tasks to SFIA Skills.

Phase 1: principles, generics and structure

The first phase of a project to map the Japanese i-Competence Dictionary (iCD) to the SFIA Framework has been undertaken by the Japanese IT Promotion Agency (IPA).  This is to initiate a close working relationship between the IPA and the SFIA Foundation and further cooperation in the future.

This initial phase looked at the underlying principles, generics and structure of iCD and SFIA and subsequent phases will look at mapping iCD Tasks to specific SFIA Skills.

This work is a component of SFIA’s Global Framework Alignment and Collaboration programme. In its 18+ years, SFIA has established itself as the most widely used skills and competency framework with use in around 180 countries supporting thousands of companies and individuals. SFIA is a straightforward, generic, easily understood and universally applicable skills and competency framework.

iCD, while at present not having the coverage and reach that SFIA does, is well liked in Japan and has significant depth, and multiple structures that are well suited to Japanese industry and education.  A major part of this collaboration is to look at further cooperation, learn from each other and consider closer alignment in the future.

iCD’s depth and structures will inform future evolutions of SFIA and SFIA’s established global reach and ecosystem will be of benefit to and inform iCD going forward.

To further this cooperation, IPA is a SFIA Partner and have contributed to the the global industry body that drives the direction of SFIA for the benefit of the digital, IT and software engineering profession globally.  In addition, IPA, along with some other SFIA users, is helping with the translation of SFIA 7 into Japanese.

To find out more contact either: 

Visit the IPA website: www.ipa.go.jp

First draft of the comparison report is available here JIPA SFIA-iCD Document .