Foundation
JULY, 2014
ECDL FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS EDITION
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FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER.
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ANNOUNCEMENT OF ICDL ARABIA
NEW SAMPLE TESTS ON ECDL.ORG
Foundation website.
ECDL / ICDL IN ACTION AROUND THE WORLD
ANNOUNCEMENT OF ICDL ARABIA
The ECDL Foundation and ICDL GCC Foundation are pleased to announce a
new strategic initiative with the launch of ICDL Arabia with effect from 1 September 2014. The creation of ICDL Arabia will bring ICDL activities in Egypt, Iraq and
the GCC States under a single identifiable ICDL brand resulting in greater brand
uniformity, which will strengthen the ICDL presence and visibility across the region.
ICDL Arabia will consolidate a wealth of experience in delivering the ICDL programme across the Gulf region over the past 12 years during which time approximately 2 million candidates have registered in the programme with millions
of certification tests undertaken. The creation of ICDL Arabia will allow for greater
economies of scale in the operation of the programme through the implementation
of uniform standards across the region in terms of quality assurance, candidate
registration, test center accreditation, marketing and promotion as well as courseware and testing provision.
NEW SAMPLE TESTS ON ECDL.ORG
ECDL Foundation provides a range of sample tests on its website to enable
potential candidates and employers to understand ECDL / ICDL modules in more
depth and prepare for testing.
Recent additions included ECDL / ICDL Computer Essentials sample tests for
Office 2013 for Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, as well as ECDL / ICDL Online Essentials sample tests for Windows 7 and Office 2013.
EQUALSKILLS CERTIFICATES FOR 100 PEOPLE IN ROMANIA
100 people from rural areas in 5 counties in Romania have obtained their
EqualSkills certificate. The project took place with the support of ECDL Romania
through the Biblionet project which offered free training for each student by local
librarians. Biblionet is a five-year programme that helps Romanian libraries better
serve their communities through training and technology.
Before starting the candidates training, the 25 librarians in the rural libraries,
selected by Biblionet, successfully completed the ‘Train the Trainer’ course which
was organized by ECDL Romania with support of IREX Foundation. IREX is
an international nonprofit organisation which provides thought leadership and
innovative programs to promote positive lasting change globally.
ICDL OFFERED AT MARAE IN NEW ZEALAND
Whangarei is the first city in New Zealand to have completed their UFB (Ultra Fast
Broadband) roll out, which was acknowledged and celebrated by a number of
Northpower sponsored initiatives and events in May 2014.
To ensure the Otangarei community could get the most of this opportunity, ICDL
Asia accreditation partner in New Zealand, 2020 Trust, helped the Marae establish
a computer suite by donating 12 desktop computers. They also offered 10
ICDL training and certification packages. Students began their ICDL journey on
8 May, when the Marae’s training suite was officially opened by New Zealand’s
Communications and Information Technology Minister, the Honorable Amy
Adams.
2020 Trust National Marketing Executive for ICDL, Sarah Lee, attended the
opening. “This is a fantastic project to be involved in. The Otangarei community
lacks so many resources and unemployment is high, so we hope that an ICDL
certificate will help those who complete it, go on to gain meaningful employment
or tertiary education and enhance their lives in some way.”
The picture on the left illustrates a traditional hongi exchanged between Alex
(Otangarei Marae Trust) and Laurence Zwimpfer (2020 Communications Trust)
when signing the MOU.
ICDL GCC COMMENDS ABU DHABI GOVERNMENT’S ‘E-CITIZEN’
INITIATIVE FOR WINNING AWARD FROM ‘WORLD SUMMIT ON THE
INFORMATION SOCIETY 2014’
ECDL Foundation and ICDL GCC have extended its greetings of congratulations
to the Government of Abu Dhabi’s Systems and Information Centre (ADSIC) for
winning first place in the ‘Best Application of Information Technology (IT) and
e-Learning’ category of the recently concluded World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS) Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. The award was given in
recognition of ADSIC’s successful implementation of the emirate’s ‘e-Citizen’
programme.
ICDL GCC Foundation and ADSIC signed a Memorandum of Association (MoA)
in 2011 that allowed ICDL to implement the ‘e-Citizen’ programme across
the UAE capital on a ‘free of charge’ basis. The landmark agreement aims to
teach local residents on how to use and access basic ‘e-Services’ offerings
like e-government, e-banking, job search websites, social media and others.
Furthermore, the strong partnership between ICDL GCC Foundation and ADSIC
has also resulted in the successful launch of various awareness programmes,
targeting women and youth on the many benefits and advantages to be gained
in learning digital skills and overcoming the challenges presented in the internet
world.
1,500 STUDENTS TO BE ICDL CERTIFIED IN KENYA
The Co-operative University College of Kenya has become an Accredited
ICDL Test Centre. The Co-operative University College of Kenya will offer ICDL
certification to the more than 1,500 students in its four campuses including
Langata (Main Campus), Nairobi Campus, Meru Campus and Mombasa Campus.
The ICDL Test Centre will also serve Co-operative societies in Kenya. The ICDL
Africa Team in Nairobi proudly welcomes The Co-operative University College of
Kenya.
LAUNCH OF THE ‘+ TELEWORKING’ PROGRAMME IN COLOMBIA
ICDL Colombia recently launched the ‘+Teleworking’ programme in Colombia at
an event organised by the National Retail Federation in Antioquia.
‘+Teleworking’ is a tailored certification programme which contains three ICDL
modules aimed at developing digital skills, productivity and competitiveness.
The programme also covers other relevant areas for individuals and companies
interested in implementing distance working. ‘+Teleworking’ is supported by the
Colombian Ministry of Labour.
The objective of the programme is to promote among companies and teleworkers the international digital skills standards of ICDL certification and the competences required to perform optimally as a teleworker.
NEW ACCREDITED TEST CENTRES IN TAIWAN
Three new test centres have been accredited in Taiwan. Lien Cheng Computer
Training Centre, one of the largest computer training companies with 29
campuses across Taiwan, Hongyu Training Centre, a reputable training centre
for the working adults and unemployed in Taoyuan and Jhongli City and Beta
School, a leading computer training centre in Hsinchu City. These centres will
offer new ICDL programmes in Traditional Chinese at Base and Standard level
first, with the intention to launch ICDL Advanced programmes in the future. Visit
www.icdl-cn.org for more information in Traditional Chinese.
FEDERAL ROAD SAFETY CORP BUILDS ON ICDL SUCCESS
The Federal Road Safety Corp in Nigeria has continued its adoption of ICDL
across the agency with the latest batch of candidates having been presented
with their certificates in June. Held at the FRSC headquarters in Abuja the event
was attended by the Corp Marshal, Osita Chidoka, who is very passionate about
the need for staff to have the right digital workplace skills, “today is one of my
happiest days in FRSC. It marks a significant milestone in our journey towards
attaining the status of a world class organisation, and signposts the clarity of our
vision which is anchored on computerisation and knowledge.”
This project is at the forefront in ICDL Africa’s focus on developing the Nigerian
market and the ICDL Africa team looks forward to working with E-Tech to achieve
this into the future.
FOR DISCUSSION
WHAT
GRAND COALITION FOR DIGITAL JOBS HAS ACHIEVED
FOR THE
DISCUSSION
In March 2013, the European Commission launched something new and rather
ambitious: a Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs.
It has some brave aims, and is suitably spearheaded by “brave commissioner”
(New Europe) Neelie Kroes.
So what has it achieved in the past 15 months for Europe’s unemployed and
underemployed?
The Grand Coalition explained
“The Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs uses the economies of scale we have at
the EU level to bring qualified people and innovative employers together. This is
European integration in practice.”
- European Commission President José Manuel Barroso
The Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs was established mainly to address the
shortage of ICT professionals in the EU.
Despite high levels of unemployment in member states, the demand for ICT
specialists is rising at 3% per year. These are well paid jobs, but supply is not
meeting demand in this fast moving market. The EU’s shortage of qualified ICT
professionals is expected to reach over half a million by 2015, and 900,000 by
2020.
“Digital skills are the new literacy”, explains Commissioner Kroes.
Improving training and upskilling opportunities is one of the aims of the Coalition. It
plans to do this in consultation with the ICT industry to best equip citizens with the
skills to fill the roles.
The Coalition wants to streamline recognised qualifications across countries and
provide innovation in the way ICT skills are taught. This is in addition to breaking
down mobility barriers to allow workers to move around Europe more easily and
avoid geographical shortages. Finally, the Coalition wants to raise awareness,
particularly among young women, of the career opportunities ICT can provide.
Working with industry: the importance of pledges
The Commission know they can’t achieve all this through policy and guidance
alone. They’ve wisely integrated industry and stakeholders into the process – and
the solutions.
Educators, companies and voluntary groups in the ICT sector have been asked to
‘pledge’ what changes they can make to further the Coalition’s aims.
To date, 55 organisations have pledged to hit actionable short term targets, and
to join or establish National Coalitions for Digital Jobs. Companies include Google,
Cisco, Accenture and Samsung.
The live tracking of pledge progress is typical of the refreshing thread of
transparency running through the Coalition’s activities.
What the Coalition has achieved so far
The live tracking of pledge progress is typical of the refreshing thread of
transparency running through the Coalition’s activities.
The pledges range from providing better training opportunities, to modernizing
education systems, to raising awareness of ICT careers to creating jobs.
Here are some examples:
Microsoft pledged to increase the amount of high quality apprenticeships and
internships from 9,000 to 13,500 in three years, which it is on track to achieve.
It also organised a round-table in Parliament in November 2013 on quality
internships and their impact to youth, and became the first corporation to sign
theEuropean charter on Quality Internships and Apprenticeships.
The Hellenic Professionals Informatics Society (HePIS) is aiming to address the
staggering rate of youth unemployment in Greece with its pledge. Its admirable
website Getbusy.gr provides young people with the materials to improve their
ICT Skills (based on ECDL modules), Professional Development (CV and job
interview tips), entrepreneurial skills and advises them on new technologies and
sustainability.
Spain has formed its own National Coalition for a Digital Economy to increase
ICT employment and help economic growth. It has trained 1000 people already,
reached 65,000 people through MOOCS and put €8.7 million behind an ICT
Training subsidy.
We, ECDL Foundation, delivered a new flexible certification ‘New ECDL’ to provide
Europe’s citizens with the skills they need for employment, and are working to
develop two new modules: ‘ICT for Small Business’ and ‘ICT for Educators’.
What’s next for the Coalition
The e-Skills for jobs campaign comes under the umbrella of the Grand
Coalition and aims to build awareness of the benefits of digital skills and the job
opportunities in the ICT industry.
It launched in May with a Grand Event in Greece. Speaking at the launch, Michel
Barnier, acting Commissioner for Industry and Entrepreneurship, said:
“I am concerned that the lack of e-skills may be hindering growth in the tech
sector and, as a consequence, European innovation and competitiveness. Today’s
launch… is an important step to help prepare young people for the jobs of today
and tomorrow.”
Organisations continue to add pledges, including the Adobe Foundation which
pledged to extend the Adobe Youth Voices programme to at least 4 new countries
in Europe in the next 2 years.
The reach of the Coalition has expanded past Europe. In January, President
Barroso and Vice President Kroes met with CEOs from around the globe at the
World Economic Forum in Davos. Their aim was to expand the successful Grand
Coalition project and to get corporate leaders to endorse the Davos Declaration.
Speaking recently about the reach and aims of the Grand Coalition, Commissioner
Kroes said:
“Technology cannot be the whole solution, it cannot alone employ all those 26
million now looking for work, but it is a great place to start”
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AND REPORTS
LOW SKILLED WORKERS FACE INCREASING RISK OF UNEMPLOYMENT,
SAYS NEW REPORT
The economic crisis that affected many European countries has reinforced the
trend towards upskilling across the continent. The least educated workers were
more exposed to unemployment, according to a new report published by the
European Commission. Employers tend to recruit medium educated people
for occupations that were previously dominated by lower skilled workers. The
European Vacancy and Recruitment Report 2014 argues that the implementation
of lifelong learning policies, such as the European Youth Guarantee, are key to
helping people with lower qualifications find employment.
Read more