CIPS is pleased to announce the launch of a new Student Capstone Project in collaboration with Saskatchewan Polytechnic’s Business Information Systems program. This initiative brings together emerging IT talent and CIPS (Canada’s Association of IT Professionals) to explore the development of a next-generation certification portal.
The project officially began on January 9th 2026 with an initial kickoff meeting between the student project team and CIPS National. This marks the start of a multi-month collaboration focused on enhancing how certification applications are submitted, reviewed, and managed, supporting CIPS’ ongoing commitment to professionalism, quality, and continuous improvement.
A Real-World Project with National Impact
CIPS certifications play an important role in recognizing the experience, competence, and standards of IT professionals across Canada. Through this capstone project, Saskatchewan Polytechnic BIS students will apply their academic knowledge to a real-world national challenge, helping to shape future approaches to certification workflows.
The project will focus on researching, designing, and prototyping a certification portal that supports applicants, reviewers, and administrators. Areas of exploration include user experience, workflow efficiency, security and privacy considerations, and alignment with Canadian data residency requirements.
Meet the Capstone Project Team
CIPS is excited to work with the talented BIS students assigned to this capstone project:
- Team Lead: Heather Rittwage
- Business Analyst: Oanh Ho
- User Interface Designer: Myra Owoo Afful
- Programmer: Aryan Patel
Each team member brings a unique skill set to the project, ranging from analysis and technical development to communications and stakeholder engagement. Together they will collaborate closely with CIPS to understand organizational needs and translate them into thoughtful design.
Why This Collaboration Matters
This capstone project highlights the value of collaboration between post-secondary institutions and professional associations. For students it provides hands-on experience working with a national organization and contributing to a meaningful initiative beyond the classroom. For CIPS, it offers fresh perspectives, innovative thinking, and the opportunity to explore new ideas that support the future of certification.
Most importantly, the project reflects a shared commitment to supporting IT professionals by continually enhancing the systems and processes that underpin professional recognition in Canada.
What’s Next
This article marks the first of several updates that will be shared as the capstone project progresses. Future articles will highlight key milestones, insights from the student team, design concepts, and lessons learned along the way. CIPS members and the broader IT community are invited to follow the journey as Saskatchewan Polytechnic BIS students take on this exciting challenge and help envision the future of CIPS certification.