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Professor Alastair Irons has been re-elected Vice President of the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT
Abertay University’s Deputy Principal Professor Alastair Irons has been re-elected to a leadership position in one of the UK’s leading bodies for IT professionals.
Professor Irons was elected by his peers to serve a second term as Vice President of the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, which represents over 60,000 members in 150 countries.
Professor Irons’ new term begins in March 2023 and lasts until 2026. It follows a successful first period which saw him at the forefront of the industry’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In his first term of office, he started a number of projects and activities to build upon the initiatives that were in place prior to his appointment in 2020. The most significant activity was to commission a major review of the accreditation of Higher Education Computer Science programmes. Examples of other work were started in his first term and will continue to evolve during his second term are:
- A programme for new computer science academics, including a mentoring and buddying system. This will help build relationships with early academics and bridge BCS to their students. This programme has evolved into a BCS Special Interest Group
- The re-establishment of the BCS relationship with IFIP – and as such was elected to the IFIP Council (Board) as the President’s nomination
- The establishment of Education groups in the devolved nations (Scotland and NI in operation, Wales to be finalised)
- Handling the EDI challenges in the nomination and award of BCS prizes
- Ensuring collaboration with other BCS directorates
- Sharing the work of Academy Board to BCS Council, Trustees and a number of BCS branches.
Professor Irons' main objective for his second term is to ensure that the whole computing science community moves forward in the same direction and speaks with one voice.
Professor Irons said:
I am absolutely delighted to be serving a second term as Vice President of the BCS, an organisation that does a terrific job promoting the highest ethical standards and practices in the IT profession. I am grateful to my peers for re-electing me and I am looking forward to working to address the digital challenges facing our society to ensure technology’s impact is positive for everyone.
As a charity with a royal charter, BCS raises standards of competence and conduct across the industry and provides advice and guidance to those working in the profession. Members are also supported to gain new skills, expertise and connections to allow them to develop in their careers.
