ISACA in China, Then and Now

The official opening of our office in Beijing, China, in June 2018 was truly a milestone for ISACA. This is our first office outside the United States despite our standing as a global association with chapters in more than 200 countries. From our new office in Beijing, we will be able to more effectively grow the visibility, influence and impact of ISACA and the CMMI Institute in China and throughout Asia.

Founded in 1982, the ISACA China Hong Kong Chapter was among our first in Asia. The Taiwan Chapter followed in 1996. However, most don’t realize that our engagement in China included a very special 22-day trip in April and May 1986.

That’s when an EDPAA delegation of 23 visited Beijing, Yangzhou, Nanjing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. The goal: for professionals from different regions to exchange information on IT research, teaching and practice. The visit was organized by the Chinese Computer Society and the Citizen Ambassador Program of People to People International.

From all accounts, it was an action-packed trip. The EDPAA delegation saw or was briefed on systems in banking, insurance, manufacturing and other fields. They met with educators, students and enterprise professionals. They also made time to tour the Great Wall, Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.

“Discussions were frank, open, highly interesting and made extremely pleasant by gracious Chinese hospitality,” wrote David Dunmore of the National Capital Chapter, who was part of the delegation. “The single largest impression of the EDP delegation was the speed of Chinese progress in data processing. Considering China’s recently established serious interest in automation, the rapid progress of the past few years was a surprise to most of the delegation. China is pursuing a nation-wide massive commitment to modernize, and data processing is an integral part of this effort.”

Added Cheryl Little, the delegation leader, “This visit really was a continuation of the EDPAA’s leadership role internationally. We are finding that computer users all over the world are faced with many of the same problems and challenges, and it is important that we all communicate on a professional level.”