REGINA — IT capstone project provides next-generation portal prototype to national organization.
Nationally recognized Information Technology (IT) certification is one step closer to going online, thanks to a Saskatchewan Polytechnic capstone project.
From January to April, a group of four students from the Business Information Systems (BIS) program developed a next-generation certification portal for the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS), a national non-profit association which accredits IT professionals.
Jonathan Elias, chief marketing officer at CIPS, was connected to the program through alumnus Jarrett Emslie. The project brief was to simplify the process to submit, review and manage certification applications as the current process involves manually filling out and sending Word documents for national designation.
“We’ve been looking at bringing certification applications online for a long time,” Elias says. “We thought students would be a great fit. There’s a lot of potential for students and capstone projects to help organizations like ours.”
As a non-profit, CIPS didn’t have the budget to invest in existing, expensive online tools. By working with students, CIPS received a customized protype to move applications online through a single portal for applicants, reviewers and administrators.
As part of a capstone project, the student team members each had a specific role. Heather Rittwage was the team lead, keeping the project on track and working on documentation.
“It was a bit intimidating at first. It’s something the organization has a real need for,” she says. “We’re proud we were able to get something working in the timeline we had.”
Myra Owoo Afful, user interface designer, and Aryan Patel, programmer, collaborated closely throughout the process.
“We worked with new technology through this custom project, progressing in phases just as you would in an industry setting,” says Patel.
Adds Afful, “Aryan and I tested the system and I was part of creating the database. It’s a rewarding experience that I’ll take away from the program.”
CIPS was grateful for the opportunity to connect with a student group that understood their vision to improve user experience and workflow efficiency, while considering security and privacy requirements.
“What stood out from this experience is how seamless it was to work with the students. They created a working prototype. The communication was really good, and the students were professional,” says Elias.
Oanh Ho was the business analyst for the student team. Through her work in the role, she was reminded of the importance of connecting with clients.
“As a business analyst, you have to be on the right track with the demands of the client. I had to translate their vision into the application they requested to resolve the issue,” she says.
As the four students prepare to graduate, the BIS program is handing off the final documentation to CIPS for the organization’s next step, the testing phase. Depending on timing in the year to come, CIPS will rely on its members or a future group of Sask Polytech students to bring the project online.
The BIS program provides students with a solid foundation in business basics with a focus on information technology. Graduates work as software developers, systems analysts, programmer analysts, web/mobile app developers and help desk support. Learn more about the Business Information Systems (BIS) program.
