ECDL Foundation Newsletter – December 2010
Update for ECDL Module 13 – Project Planning
The expert working group for ECDL / ICDL Module 13 Project Planning is currently working on the test blueprint for this module.
The module focuses on the use of a project management application to
manage projects including: planning and managing time, costs, tasks, and
resources. It is anticipated that the Manual Question Test Base (MQTB) for
the module will be available by mid Q1 2011.
For more information on ECDL / ICDL Module 13 - Project Planning, click
here.
If you have any queries regarding ECDL / ICDL Module 13 - Project
Planning, please contact neil.farren@ecdl.org.
ECDL / ICDL Advanced Sample MQTB
The sample manual tests for ECDL / ICDL Advanced Syllabus 2.0 to
support Windows 7 and Office 2010 are now available on www.ecdl.org for
download by potential candidates. These sample manual tests complement
the existing sample manual tests available for XP / 2003 and Vista / 2007.
If you have any queries regarding manual tests for ECDL / ICDL Advanced
Syllabus 2.0, please contact kathleen.donohoe@ecdl.org.
ECDL Foundation Portal – What’s New?
The homepage of the Portal features a ‘What’s New’
section which provides all visitors with a reference point to see what has
recently been added to the Portal. It identifies key updates and
announcements from ECDL Foundation, CEPIS, national
operators, and industry. This section is updated on a regular basis and is
therefore a valuable resource for all Portal users. Please take the time to
log-on regularly to keep abreast of current initiatives and updates. Click
here to view. (You will need to be logged on).
Summary Documents – Updated and Available to Download
These documents have recently been updated, and are intended to contain
all significant ECDL / ICDL initiatives and endorsements (historical and
ongoing) that have occurred or are currently taking place in all markets
worldwide in the following sectors:

Government / Public

Corporate / Private

Education

Accessibility

NGOs
These summary documents should be one of most important resources for
national operators in identifying similar case studies which they can use as
reference points when selling ECDL / ICDL in their markets, and to build a
stronger argument for potential customers to get involved in an ECDL /
ICDL initiative. Please take the time to review the summary documents to
see if there are any initiatives occurring in your market which should be
recorded, yet have not been. In the Resource Library of the Portal, search:
Keyword: Summary, Sector: e.g. Accessibility.
Programme Strategy – Feedback on the Discussion Documents
Thanks to all the Licensees who took the time to provide feedback on the
discussion documents related to programme strategy. As always, this
feedback is invaluable and will ensure that our future programmes address
real market needs. We are currently collating your comments with the view
to producing a summary strategy document that we will circulate to you
over the coming weeks.
Digital Agenda for Europe – Ongoing Licensee Advocacy Campaign
We would like to remind European Licensees once
more of the vital importance of the Digital Agenda for Europe initiative for
their local markets, and of the significant opportunity that exists for them to
further embed ECDL into national policy and skills development strategy,
and most importantly to ensure that future ESF funding for the period 2014 2020 is allocated towards specific digital literacy and competency
certifications.
By now all European Licensees should be formally registered as a National
Stakeholder in the DAE in their country and should have issued local press
releases highlighting the importance of the DAE in their country, and the
role they will play in delivering it. As highlighted at the Forum, and also in
previous DAE Communications from ECDL Foundation, it is essential that
you as Licensees now build and implement an ongoing Advocacy
Campaign over the next two years.
The Advocacy Guide outlines key elements necessary in building a national
campaign, including the development of national positions, messaging,
communications and events targeted at influencing the structure of 2014 –
2020 European Social Funds. It is key that the Digital Agenda for Europe
will be factored into your planning for 2011 – 2012. ECDL Foundation
Regional Development Executives will work with you as required, providing
support and sharing information amongst markets on successful advocacy
activity and events. The Advocacy Guide can be downloaded from the
Portal. Search Keyword: Advocacy, Sector: EU Affairs.
Latin America’s Largest University Implements ICDL
On 25th and 26th November 2010, the first ever ICDL testing took place in
Mexico. The pilot, consisting of 40 students, occurred in the Vallejos
campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México – UNAM (National University of Mexico). The pilot was managed by the faculty of
ICT and was part of the digital strategy of the university, H@bitat Puma,
which aims to integrate ICT into each university classroom.
UNAM is the largest university in the whole of Latin America with 314,000
students and 35,000 academic staff. It was home to three Nobel Prize
winners.
Rolling out ICDL in the university will have an impact on the whole region as
many other universities and educational institutions look to UNAM as an
innovator and mentor. As the first partner of ECDL Foundation in Mexico,
UNAM is hoping to lead the way in the area of ICT skills certification.
For more information, please contact michelle.hardiman@ecdl.org.
New National Operator Appointed in Australia
Following a transition period over the past several months, we are delighted
to be able to announce that we have appointed Thirdforce Asia Pacific as
our new national operator for ICDL Australia.
Thirdforce has been a trusted partner of the ICDL programme in many
territories around the world, including Australia itself, for more than a
decade, and has committed to invest significantly in assisting us in raising
the standard of operations in the short-term and the overall efficacy of
advocacy activities in the long-term.
With Thirdforce as national operator, we look forward to building towards a
nationally well-recognised and endorsed programme in Australia.
ICDL Iran Organises Conference in Tehran on ‘Digital Literacy Improvements in
Accordance with the Goals of Iran in 1404’
In conjunction with Iran’s vision to be the top country in the Middle East by
1404 (the current year in Iran is 1389), and to achieve advancements in
science and technology, ICDL Iran organised a conference in Tehran in
November 2010 for its test centre managers.
The conference attracted 300 centre managers who came together to
discuss the impact of the ICDL programme on digital literacy, and how
achieving digital literacy can support Iran’s vision towards achieving its
1404 goals. Daniel Palmer from ECDL Foundation was invited to attend the
conference and presented on ‘The Importance of Digital Literacy
Improvement in the Global Society’ and how ECDL Foundation and the
ICDL programme can contribute to Iran’s vision for 1404.
US College Prepares Students for the Workforce with ICDL
On a recent trip to the US, ECDL Foundation staff visited
one of the more established ICDL US test centres. Trumbull Business
College in Warren Ohio, has been delivering ICDL since 2007 under the
directorship of Joe Ditoro. A former steel town, with an employment rate
considerably higher than the national average, Mr. Ditoro is determined to
raise the computer skills levels of all students to meet the requirements of
businesses and further education in Ohio. The majority of Trumbull students
are in the 25-35 age range, with a quarter of its students attending night
classes. All students take ICDL certification via an Introduction to
Computers course which gives them three credit hours. By integrating ICDL
certification into a credit programme, Trumbull’s students can access some
state funding for their tuition. With the college’s offering of online courses
set to increase from twelve to one hundred next year, the relevance of ICDL
will continue to grow.
Have Your Say on Future EU Funding - Competitiveness and Innovation Framework
Programme (CIP)
This public consultation is part of an assessment of the Competitiveness
and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) which consists of three
operational programmes, including the ICT Policy Support Programme. It is
a perfect opportunity for stakeholders to comment on CIP activities and
indicate what could be done to improve its possible successor.
Those who wish to take part in the consultation can complete the survey
that will be available online until 4th February 2011. This survey is
addressed to any organisations or individuals who wish to give their views
on the possible CIP successor’s priorities and instruments to raise its
effectiveness.
Click here to find out more about the public consultation on the CIP.
European Commission’s Digital Competitiveness Report 2010
This report analyses recent developments in important policy areas of the
European Information Society and provides a significant evidence base for
the European Digital Agenda. It focuses on the use of: internet services and
eCommerce; the digital divide and eInclusion; online public services;
broadband access; and the economic impact of ICT and the ICT sector.
The report also benchmarks the relative performance of the EU Member
States where possible, compared with other major non-European
economies such as the US, Japan and Korea. It shows that in 2009 the
European digital economy continued to grow and more people used online
services despite the economic crisis.
Click here to see the full report.
New to the Portal

ECDL Press Release on European Commission’s ‘An Agenda for
New Skills and Jobs’
This is the Commission’s most recent flagship initiative under the
Europe 2020 strategy. It is aimed at: reducing European
unemployment considerably in the next 10 years; promoting lifelong
learning; decreasing the amount of early school leavers in the region;
and reducing the skills deficit that employers are currently
experiencing. In response to this initiative ECDL Foundation recently
published a press release stressing the crucial role of ICT skills
development in all EU and Member State employment-generating
policies. Search Keyword: Skills, Information Type: Press Release.
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Latest Candidate Registration Statistics
These latest statistics are now available. Click here to view them.
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ECDL France – New Newsletter
The Newsletter for November 2010 is now available to read.
Search, Information Type: Newsletter, Country: France.
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Newly Endorsed Programme
A programme developed by the Hungarian Licensee, John von
Neumann Computer Institute, entitled ‘Screen Reading, Optical
Character Recognition’ has recently been endorsed by ECDL
Foundation. Read about it here.
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