The Accredited Symbian Developer (ASD) scheme is now available in both English in Chinese. By providing ASD examinations in Chinese for the first time, through local company Platomix, Majinate is making the scheme more accessible to developers in the region who want to gain a recognized accreditation in developing for Symbian.

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According to the Symbian organization, the open-source platform maintains a majority share of the smart-phone market in China. As a result, Symbian says, the ASD scheme is a highly accessible way for developers to establish a guaranteed, independently assessed skill set and level of expertise in Symbian development, which Chinese developers can use to target that market. 

Additionally, Symbian believes the opportunity will stimulate the wider mobile community in the region as businesses need to identify developers. Employers, OEMs, professional services, and other companies that want to create an application for Symbian devices will have a pool of accredited developers to choose from, the group says.

Since 2005, the ASD scheme has certified the skills of hundreds of Symbian C++ developers, enabling them to differentiate themselves in the competitive IT job market, Symbian says. Administered by Majinate, a non-profit community interest company, the scheme recently was relaunched in English following an update.

Candidates are certified when they pass an online exam, provided via an adaptive testing framework. The exam comprises a set of objectively reviewed questions about Symbian C++, which have been calibrated during thousands of exams over five years for a high level of accuracy.

Symbian derived these questions from an annually updated curriculum designed to keep pace with enhancements in the Symbian platform. Supporting learning materials are available online and through Symbian’s press publications, as well as through a network of training partners.

“We’re delighted to be able to announce a partnership with Platomix, a Chinese company, who will provide access to a fully translated ASD exam in China, as well as localized technical support and training,” said Ian Weston, founder of Majinate. “Symbian developers can now choose whether to take the ASD in English or Chinese. We are proud to offer developers the only independent and objective way to prove Symbian competency.”

“Symbian developers can now ensure an independently verified skill set by taking and passing the ASD exam,” said David Chun, general manager of China, Symbian. “It’s a great way for the Symbian developer community to show achievement and measure expertise.”

Symbian