News

University technologists teach trainers to train 'digital plumbers' (28/2/2008)

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) has appointed the University of Central England's Technology Innovation Centre (TIC) as the first UK-university to train technicians as certified installers of digital home networks.

Techniques associated with 'plumbing-in' diverse electronic or wireless receiving devices, fast-becoming essential to daily life, do not fall naturally within most traditional trades-people's experience. CompTIA has responded to the demand for new expertise to equip 21st Century homes and small offices with digital connections and computer networks. The result is a new practical qualification.

The CompTIA-certified training, offered by TIC, produces technicians who will be designated a 'Digital Home Technology Integrator + (DHTI+)' - already popularly referred to as 'a digital plumber.' A decade of operating one of computer networks giant Cisco System's leading international academies, made TIC a natural UK-choice for CompTIA's training programme.

The DHTI+ qualification is expected to appeal to professionals already involved in skill-areas such as security systems, broadband, general telecommunications, cable and satellite TV and audio-video installation, as well as to electricians, plumbers and other building-service providers. As a result the UK's leading, vocational awarding-body, City & Guilds, is now accrediting the CompTIA qualification as a natural addition to its portfolio of e-Quals qualifications.

Mak Sharma, Manager of TIC's computer networking centre and Cisco Academy, says: "We've been training trainers for Cisco since the late nineties. Now we have been asked by City & Guilds to do the same for the CompTIA certified DHTI+ programme. As a result we are training instructors from City & Guilds accredited colleges throughout the UK."

People are increasingly adding digital devices to their homes. City & Guilds Sector General Manager, Ben Knight comments: "Despite many technologies now being designed to work together, few people know how to connect them and benefit from a 'networked home'. Only DHTI+ currently standardises the skills needed to manage home technologies and bring order to potential electronic and telecoms chaos in the modern digital home."

Despite the lack of qualified technicians able to safely equip the modern digital home, the government aims to build many more new homes. In addition, there is the impending switch-over to digital TV and natural growth of integrated domestic telecoms and electronic systems. TIC's Mak Sharma comments: "All these trends are stimulating demand for trained specialists. TIC is now training college trainers to run City & Guilds accredited DHTI+ courses around the UK to meet the growing need for skilled technicians to install, support and service networked home technologies."

DHTI+ will enable technicians to demonstrate their capabilities against construction industry-approved skills, offering both employers and customers confidence in their abilities. Qualified technicians will have the certified skills and knowledge to configure, integrate, maintain and troubleshoot home networks. They will be able to set up and manage systems which will combine home services. These include wireless internet connections, remotely enabled domestic appliances, media servers, security, heating and ventilation systems and digital TV set-top boxes.

TIC's Sharma observes: "People working from home particularly need confidence in the stability and performance of their networked resources. The technician installing their equipment must be skilled and have an approved level of expertise."

For businesses already carrying out home technology integration services, DHTI+ offers a basis on which to recruit staff with validated skills. It also offers a way to equip existing employees with industry-approved standards of knowledge which will increase the quality of home network installations across the UK.

Matthew Poyiadgi, European regional director of CompTIA says: "The digital home networking industry won't develop without qualified technicians. TIC courses (and City & Guilds accreditation) will help create an army of skilled specialists, increase credibility of home networking skills and improve the legitimacy of the digital home industry."

http://www.tic.ac.uk