Scope of Application

1. This decree regulates the objectives, organization, and processes for the implementation of the cantonal council's resolution regarding a special credit for the IT education initiative dated February 10, 2019.

1. The IT Education Initiative supports society and the economy in the digital transformation with educational measures.

2. It is a program for all educational levels.

1. Measures of the IT Education Initiative

a) are based on the report to the Cantonal Council's decision regarding a special credit for the IT Education Initiative dated March 13, 2018, and take into account the ongoing digital transformation;

b) aim to achieve the greatest benefit through effectiveness and efficiency;

c) are equitable and sustainable;

d) follow a data usage concept and uphold personal rights as well as data protection.

1. The Special Credit for the IT Education Initiative is a framework credit for a program pursuant to Art. 18 para. 1 let. b and Art. 19 et seq. of the Financial Budget Ordinance of December 17, 1996.

1. The program shall last for eight years from the commencement of this decree.

1. Instances of the Program are

a) Government as the contracting authority;

b) Department of Education as the responsible department;

c) Program Committee for the management of the program;

d) External body for quality assurance;

e) Program Management for leadership of the program and coordination of the projects.

1. The program of the IT Education Offensive consists of five projects.

2. The projects can be divided into sub-projects.

1. Instances of a project are

a) Government as the client;

b) Project committee for project management;

c) Project management for leading the project and coordinating sub-projects.

2. The government may prescribe additional instances in the respective project contracts.

1. The University of Teacher Education St.Gallen, in collaboration with the Office for Elementary Schools, the Office for Secondary Schools, and the Office for Vocational Education, conducts the project "Competence Center for Digitalization and Education" for elementary schools and secondary level II.

2. It appropriately involves school authorities and school administrations, teacher associations, and other stakeholders.

1. The Office for Vocational Education and Training, in collaboration with the authorities of the learning venues—vocational schools, training companies, and industry associations—implements the project "Fit4Future" for vocational education and training.

2. It coordinates, whenever possible, with federal activities for the development of national guidelines for vocational education and training.

1. The Eastern Switzerland University of Applied Sciences conducts the project "Competence Center for Applied Digitalization" for the university of applied sciences level.

1. The University of St.Gallen implements the project "Establishment of the School of Information and Computing Science" at the university level.

1. The association "IT St.Gallen" is supported in managing a project aimed at connecting education and business.

2. Additionally, activities from the IT education initiative are supported to motivate young people to pursue education in the fields of Mathematics, Informatics, Natural Sciences, and Technology (STEM). A requirement is that third parties contribute an amount double that of the cantonal support.

1. The government issues the program mandate.

2. The program mandate particularly describes

a) the mission of the program and its individual objectives;

b) the framework conditions and dependencies;

c) the individual results;

d) the key parameters of the assignments to the projects;

e) the schedule, organization, and responsibilities;

f) the preliminary financial planning and the financing principles;

g) the fundamental guidelines for reporting;

h) the key parameters of communication both internally and externally;

i) the initial risk assessment, the risk management, and the internal control system.

1. The government grants a project assignment for each project.

2. The project assignment particularly describes

a) the initial situation;

b) the problem and task definition;

c) the stakeholders;

d) the objectives and framework conditions;

e) the points of contact with other projects and initiatives;

f) the schedule, organization, and responsibilities;

g) the project scope and project structure;

h) the costs and required resources;

i) the controlling processes, particularly reporting and the internal control system;

j) the internal and external communication;

k) the initial risk assessment, risk management, and the internal control system.

1. The responsibilities are determined by the Financial Budget Ordinance of December 17, 1996, insofar as this decree does not prescribe anything specific.

1. The budget reflects the estimated expenditures from the special credit.

2. The expenditures from the special credit are recorded in the income statement.

1. All expenses and income are recorded for each project in a separate account, a separate cost center, or a separate cost unit.

1. The financing of the measures of the IT education initiative is generally based on the project assignments.

2. The release of credit tranches from the special credit fund is the responsibility of the government.

1. The utilization of approved credit tranches falls under the responsibility of the Program Committee.

2. The Program Committee may delegate the utilization to a subordinate body if it is fundamentally established and of minor importance or does not allow for delay.

1. Personnel resources are financed from the special credit, insofar as they fulfill the program mandate or project mandates.

2. The financing is limited to the duration of the mandate fulfillment.

1. An internal control system is provided for programs and projects in the contracts.

1. The Program Committee reports to the government annually on

a) the status of project implementation;

b) upcoming milestones and the timeline;

c) any deviations from the program mandate;

d) the required resources;

e) the risks.

2. The government reports annually to the Cantonal Council in the appendix to the annual report on the implementation of the IT education initiative and the utilization of the special credit.

3. Final reporting and accounting are governed by Art. 20 of the Financial Budget Ordinance of December 17, 1996[5].

1. The project committee reports to the program committee.

2. The reporting is governed in detail by the project mandate.

1. The review of the accounts of the IT Education Initiative's programs and projects is the responsibility of the Financial Control.

2. The Financial Control may conduct interim audits.