So whats this BCS thing all about

Discussion in 'Professional Associations' started by dales, May 2, 2008.

  1. dales

    dales Terabyte Poster

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    Hi all,

    just been having a look at the BCS website and just a little confused by it all. Is it a club/ or set of exams, or does a membership fee and passing exams get you into the BCS.
    Anyone here members and can they shed any light?
     
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  2. NightWalker

    NightWalker Gigabyte Poster

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    We had a contractor in the other day who left his card, it had MBCS after his name. I'm also not sure what its all about.
     
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  3. ffreeloader

    ffreeloader Terabyte Poster

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    I don't know. I thought the only way to get into the BCS is to be a Division 1 NCAA college and be one of the best 20 or so college football teams in the US during that year of competition.... :biggrin
     
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  4. Sparky
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    Sparky Zettabyte Poster Moderator

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    No big deal, I’ve been a member since uni, started as graduate member and now MBCS. £70 a year for membership. 8)
     
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  5. Mathematix

    Mathematix Megabyte Poster

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    Student member, then graduate, then didn't bother. Became a member of game dev organisation instead. :biggrin
     
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  6. NightWalker

    NightWalker Gigabyte Poster

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    What are the benefits of being a member?
     
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  7. dales

    dales Terabyte Poster

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    May 3, 2008 #7
    sounds a bit like you pay a sub each year and get a couple of magazines a year and get invited to talks if you live anywhere near a big city! Thats me out. country bumpkin me!
     
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  8. drum_dude

    drum_dude Gigabyte Poster

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    They are a decent org but I don't think it'll do you much good unless you're involved in the research/academic side of things. When I passed me sh-ITIL course I was sent an "invite" to join the BCS - for a fee!!! F*ck that!
     
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  9. dmarsh
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    dmarsh Petabyte Poster

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    May 3, 2008 #9
    They are not really an academic or research organisation, look at the ACM or IEEE for that.
     
  10. dales

    dales Terabyte Poster

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    thats a shame I was looking forward to learning another secret handshake!

    [​IMG]
     
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  11. drum_dude

    drum_dude Gigabyte Poster

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  12. dmarsh
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    dmarsh Petabyte Poster

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    http://history.acm.org/
    http://www.acm.org/about/history

    http://www.ieee.org/web/aboutus/history/index.html
    http://www.computer.org/portal/site...t/history&file=CShistory.xml&xsl=generic.xsl&

    http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=conWebDoc.1580

    The BCS is very much the spotty teenager of the bunch...
     
  13. BosonMichael
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    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    I tried that same kind of response the last time someone brought up the BCS and was also summarily ignored. Know that at least one person (me) laughed! :biggrin
     
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  14. drum_dude

    drum_dude Gigabyte Poster

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  15. Bluerinse
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    Bluerinse Exabyte Poster

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    That's because most of us here haven't got the foggiest idea what you are talking about :blink

    Oh, and we don't know much about college football teams either :p
     
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  16. BosonMichael
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    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    The reason we joke about the only BCS we know is because *we* don't have the foggiest idea what *you* are talking about with your BCS. :p
     
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  17. Bluerinse
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    Bluerinse Exabyte Poster

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    To be honest *I* don't have the foggiest idea what *we* are talking about. I was talking about THE BCS otherwise known as the Body Corporate Services http://www.bcssm.com.au/ :p
     
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  18. Kitkatninja
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    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

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    May 8, 2008 #18
    It's an organisation that caters for IT Professionals world-wide (but primarly for the UK), one of the aims of the BCS is to develop the IT Profession into a recognised profession (just like engineering, nursing, lawers, etc.) Currently it is the only organisation that awards the CITP (Chartered IT Professional status) although the IET is in talks with the BCS to be able to award them also. The BCS also awards the CEng, IEng & CSci awards (this is apart from the membership grades - AMBCS, MBCS, etc).

    You can join the BCS with time spent working in IT and/or certain quals, you will also have to provide 2 references.

    The BCS also awards educational quals (you will have to take various module & exams) up to NQF 6 which is Honours degree level.

    Should you join? That's up to you, I found the goals of the BCS similar to mine. Plus I make use of some of the benefits of membership such as: the sfia and career development, the forums, the online books, plus I also get legal aid if at some point in the future I need it (have you seen the prices of solicitors lately?), etc...

    Alot of people will say that they are a waste of time (people will say the same thing about degrees, professional certs, vocational certs, etc), others will say that they are a good investment (again people will say the same thing about degrees, professional certs, vocational certs, etc). Personally I believe that they are a good organisation to join especially since I want to progress up the career ladder. Not everyone develops the same way, not everyone takes the same route.

    Best bet is to ring the BCS up (or e-mail), talk to them and then make your own informed decision.

    -Ken
     
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