The Swiss Computing Certificate (SIZ) established in 1991, examines professional information and communication technology (ICT) skills in three languages. Preparatory training courses are offered by around 200 partner colleges. Three large Swiss economic associations support this certification, which aims to promote computing skills within professional training: the Swiss trade and crafts association (SGV), the Swiss workers’ association (SAV) and the Swiss economic association for information, communication and organizational technology (SWICO). With around 150,000 diplomas and more than half a million module examinations, the SIZ diploma has become established among employers as a recognized certificate of qualification.

Until recently, certification exams were administered on paper. SIZ selected the Questionmark Perception assessment management system in 2006 as part of a comprehensive update of the certification process. About 500 internal and external training and assessment specialists were trained to use Perception, and the electronic examination was successfully introduced in 2007. The project  included developiong ancillary systems ranging from candidate administration to the distribution of grades and diplomas. The online administration of assessments has made it easy to access information. Colleges and candidates can now monitor everything from registration to the publication of grades, and administrators can adapt the system to their individual requirements.

SIZ managers have developed a system of personal, organizational, software and hardware security that discourages cheating and protects sensitive data but at the same time makes it easy to obtain exam results. Individual colleges administer a differentiated access authorization system that determines who is able to consult, amend and delete particular data.

Although the electronic examination is the core business of SIZ, a range of additional services are also provided for associated partner colleges and examination candidates. These include a training and examination platform that provides several thousand ICT questions via Web portals. Candidates can now prepare for examinations on the Internet from any location and complete self tests as a classification aid. The partner colleges can use an examination platform to monitor the quality of the training and the ongoing progress of their candidates. Colleges can see the test results and analyses as soon as assessments have been completed.

The new system offers several advantages:

• Colleges and candidates are no longer committed to fixed examination dates.
  
• Exam results are available quickly.
  
• Internal exam results can be provided immediately for further processing.
  
• A range of evaluation options make it possible to reach direct conclusions about the strengths and weaknesses of the candidates as well as the quality of their training.
  
• Training platforms offer colleges and candidates an opportunity to monitor learners’ progress on an on-going basis.
  
• Candidates are able adapt to the examination methods and colleges can use the SIZ platform in tuition for internal examinations.
  
• Teachers save time and improve their work because they do not have to keep reinventing the wheel.
  

Computerized testing now constitutes the core business of the SIZ, but the organization wants to do more than simply adapting the previous paper-based examination system to provide additional services such as the training and examination platforms for candidates and colleges. There are now plans to develop ICT skills analyses on the basis of adaptive test methods for employers and staff representatives. The aim of the SIZ is to provide tools and guidance for candidates, colleges and the employment world (employers, staff representatives, professional consultants) which are accepted as a standard and benchmark for professional ICT skills.