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ICDL Commences Application of Recently-Launched Flexible Programmes with Four New Modules in Region
Published Nov 21, 2013
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The ICDL GCC Foundation, an organisation that promotes digital skills and cyber safety across the Gulf region and Iraq, has today (Wednesday, November 20, 2013) introduced an updated and more flexible structure of its international Information and Communications Technology (ICT) certification programmes incorporating four additional modules catering to all users. The launching ceremony was held at the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Resort and was attended by representatives from 300 ICDL-accredited entities and training centres from across the GCC and Iraq.
During the ceremony, an orientation on the new ICDL programme offered guidance on how to apply the revised structure and the additional modules. The update will affect over a million current candidates, including those who completed their ICDL certification since the programme’s launch in the GCC in 2001.
The updates integrate new content with the addition of four new modules to the candidates’ list of choices to ensure they have the digital skills necessary for present and future scenarios. This allows both candidates and businesses to maximize their digital knowledge and efficiency, staying ahead of emerging trends and the latest technologies. The revised structure of the ICDL programme offers greater flexibility in customizing ICT skills learning in line with individual and corporate business needs through a selection of 13 available modules.
Jamil Ezzo, Director General of ICDL GCC Foundation, said: “We understand that everyone uses technology for different purposes, which is why we developed the new structure and format of the ICDL certification programme. It is an important step towards staying relevant in this dynamic world. It will enable us to present a fresh and contemporary offering to both candidates and organisations to develop their digital knowledge, efficiencies and experiences, while facilitating their ultimate goal of lifelong learning.”
EDCL Foundation, the non-profit certifying authority of the ICDL programme, added four new modules – Computer Essentials, Online Essentials, Project Planning and Online Collaboration – to the new format of ICDL certification programme based on inputs from computer users, subject matter experts, and computer professionals from all over the world.
The New ICDL Profile displays the successfully completed modules to date by candidate, enabling a continuous learning path that has no end date or time limit, but is rather geared towards the current functional requirements of the learner. This allows the candidate to add other modules over the years according to varying functional needs and desires to acquire the latest ICT skills.
The New ICDL Profile offers three different levels of digital proficiency and certifications: the Base Profile, the Standard Profile, and the Expert Profile. The Base Profile certification follows four pre-set modules that are essential for everyone. The Standard Profile certification, on the other hand, contains all four Base modules along with three additional ones that can be selected from a list of five modules according to the needs of the candidate and current job requirements. Finally, the modules of the Expert Profile certification provide candidates with greater choice in the subject areas that can be certified through the ICDL programme. Each of the 13 courses can stand on its own on as an ICDL Unit Profile certificate.
“The New ICDL Profile is a notch higher than its predecessor in terms of flexibility, relevance, validity and diversity. The new content addition will ensure greater coverage of the digital skills and knowledge required now and in the near future. The revised structure allows candidates and organisations to develop digital literacy, competence, and expertise in a manner deemed appropriate by them,” added Ezzo.
The groundwork is currently being laid to facilitate a smooth and consistent transition to the New ICDL Profile which will officially be released and offered starting January 1, 2014. The ICDL program was first launched in Europe in 1997 and later launched in the Arab region in 2001 by UNESCO as a 7-module program and has undergone only relatively minor revisions up until now.
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VMD - [Virtual Marketing Department]
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