The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) of India is a Constitutional Authority appointed by the President of India to head the Supreme Audit Institution (SAI) of India. The C&AG of India plays an important role in public sector auditing.
The SAI's mission is to promote accountability, transparency and good governance through high quality auditing of public receipts and expenditure in order to provide independent assurance to stakeholders that public funds are being used efficiently and only for the intended purposes.
SAI of India has the additional responsibility of steering the INTOSAI Knowledge Sharing Committee and its Working Group on IT Audit as its Chairman. SAI India has also been elected as member to the UN Board of Auditors for a six year term which started from 1st July 2014.
The International Centre for Information Systems and Audit (iCISA) is the premier international training institute of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India(SAI India). Designed to cater to the training requirements of the international auditing fraternity, the Centre was set up in 2002. It has since then gradually evolved into a highly sought after destination for acquiring and expanding audit skills and knowledge. With a visiting faculty of distinguished working professionals, backed by a dynamic curriculum, iCISA acts as a catalyst for high end auditing. iCISA imparts training not only to the officials of the Supreme Audit Institutions across the globe, but also to the officers from other Government Departments within India and abroad. The programmes offered at iCISA provide the officials with the tools and techniques required for effective auditing in line with the best professional practices. The course content of iCISA programmes is drawn from real life audit scenarios and presented by executives with first-hand experience in the delivery of Government Schemes & Programmes. In addition to being committed to providing an excellent learning experience for audit professionals, iCISA also serves as a prime resource centre for IT Auditing for the Supreme Audit Institution of India.
ICISA is mandated to conduct
International Training Courses on subjects of emerging interest for the global public audit fraternity under multilateral funding programmes.
Country specific International Training Courses on a particular theme, funded by the proposing SAI.
In house training courses on different Audit Themes for the officers of the Indian Audit & Accounts Department (IAAD), and other Government Departments.
In addition ICISA also serves as the primary resource centre for IT auditing in SAI India.
Vision
To be globally recognised as a Centre of Excellence for Information Systems and Information Technology Audit including Data Analytics.
Mission
To stay abreast of the fast evolving developments in the field of Information Systems and Information Technology Audit.
To identify the different issues and risks consequent on the new digital paradigm of functioning by government, thus enabling delivery of qualitatively significant audit products.
To impart high quality training on Audit and Computer Assisted Audit Tools and Techniques for lasting impact on audit effectiveness and organisational performance.
iCISA is involved in:
SAI India has been conducting international training programmes since 1979. The International Centre for Information Systems and Audit (iCISA) was set up in March 2002. It is an ISO 9001:2008 (QMS) and ISO 27001 (ISMS) certified institution. iCISA conducts international training programmes on the following themes:
The focus of all the Programmes is on emerging areas and new developments in auditing including international best practices. Our training is imparted in a multi-cultural setting that encourages sharing of ideas and experiences.
Till March 2020, 151 international training programmes have been conducted by SAI India involving more than 4000 Government officials from 141 countries. In 2015-16 alone, 208 persons from 74 countries had attended our five multilateral programmes.
We also impart bilateral training to officers from foreign governments on request from SAIs and Government Institutions. In 2015-16, 106 officials had attended our six bilateral programmes. An ASOSAI Seminar on 'SAI Management' was conducted in iCISA during 7th to 11th December 2015.
iCISA is the primary resource centre for IT Auditing in SAI India. Combining latest technology with human resources, iCISA has emerged as a knowledge hub for training in Audit of Information systems & e-Governance. Over the last five years, more than 2,500 national and international audit professionals have been trained for auditing in different IT platforms, tools and environments.
Among various activities, iCISA facilitated Remote Access Auditing for UN Peace Keeping Operations in the year 2015-16. A meeting was also organised for INTOSAI's Working Group on IT Audit (WGITA) on 'Development of ISSAI 5300'.
Spread over ten acres, iCISA is elegantly landscaped. The Campus contains a residential and administrative wing that includes five classrooms, an auditorium, dining hall and a host of recreational and sporting options. The campus also has rain water harvesting systems and a rapid composting unit which caters to its horticultural requirements.
Here, the participants have an opportunity to upgrade their auditing skills and forge bonds of friendship with people from across the world.
Academic Block
Centrally air-conditioned, the Academic Block comprises lecture and seminar halls, a conference hall, EDP labs, a well-stocked library, documentation centre, and administrative offices with full wi-fi connectivity.
Participants are provided single occupancy air conditioned accommodation with en-suite bathrooms. Every Room has a TV, computer, Hi-speed internet and Wi-Fi connectivity.
A spacious dining hall is serviced through a modern kitchen with a multi-cuisine menu prepared
hygienically and under strict supervision. Trained in-house cooks ensure dietary standards and cater to the global palette. iCISA food is immensely popular with all the participants.
Recreational and Sporting options
iCISA offers a host of recreational & sporting options to its trainees:
Swimming pool. Gymnasium.
Library and information centre with rich audio-visual content.
Outdoor Games - football field, tennis court, badminton court.
Indoor Games - billiards, table tennis, chess Indoor auditorium with a 170-seating capacity used for cultural evenings and film screenings.
Daily Yoga lessons with an expert.
Air-conditioned bus service to the city centre for shopping and sightseeing.
Basketball facility. Steam bath facility.
iCISA believes in a participative learning experience. The curriculum is innovatively designed. Classroom delivery comprises interactive lectures, group discussions, hands-on practical sessions and audit case studies. Case studies are drawn from real life audit scenarios and presented by field experts. Group exercises are included in the programme and extended Q&A sessions often spill over beyond classrooms, into informal 'hang out zones' of the institute.
Faculty
iCISA ensures that the participants interact with the very best resource persons in each specialized topic. Faculty are drawn from Government departments, SAI India, public and private sector organisations, accounting and auditing firms, universities and academic institutions.
Senior professionals from Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Community Based Organisations (CBOs), and media are also part of the faculty.
Country papers
Country Papers are a useful tool that allows participants to learn about the audit practices and issues in other countries.Experience sharing is an important objective of the ITP. It is also served through country paper presentations.
Course material
Apart from several books on the subject, participants are provided a CD of all presentations, lectures, case studies, country papers and relevant material for their future reference.
Course Evaluation
Feedback is taken from participants on faculty performance and all other aspects related to the training including residential comfort. This also serves as a criterion to gauge the effectiveness of our programmes.
Certification of Participation
On successful completion of the programme, participants are awarded a certificate at a valediction ceremony at iCISA.
Theme Country Day
A participating nation is chosen for special focus. A day is devoted to the country to enable participants to learn more about it spolity, society, economy and governance. Dignitaries from the respective embassies/missions of theme countries and expert faculties deliver lectures and interact with the participants on the designated day.
Field Visits and Study Tours
Field visits and study tours are integral parts of the training imparted at iCISA. The visits offer an excellent opportunity to understand ground level activities and to observe the socio cultural context in which these are placed. Participants are taken on a 5-day study tour to experience the richness and diversity of India.
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