ECDL Foundation
ECDL – 10 Years in Certifying Digital Literacy
Julian Seymour
Head of Business Operations – ECDL Foundation
Riga 19th April 2007
Agenda
• European Computer Driving Licence – Background
• Digital Skills to date
– ECDL Development 1997 - 2007
• Changing face of Digital Literacy
– ECDL Development 2007 – 2017
• The importance of recognised certification and
standards in an e-inclusive Europe
www.ecdl.com
Agenda
• European Computer Driving Licence – Background
• Digital Skills to date
– ECDL Development 1997 - 2007
• Changing face of Digital Literacy
– ECDL Development 2007 – 2017
• The importance of recognised certification and
standards in an e-inclusive Europe
www.ecdl.com
Overview & Background
• not-for-profit global governing body of the world’s
leading computer skills certification programmes
• Established in January 1997 by CEPIS (Council of
European Professional Informatics Societies)
www.ecdl.com
Mission
“The ECDL Foundation mission is to enable
proficient use of ICT that empowers individuals,
organisations and society, through the
development, promotion and delivery of quality
certification programmes throughout the world.”
www.ecdl.com
ECDL Foundation Values
• Social Responsibility
• Vendor independence
• Quality
www.ecdl.com
Agenda
• European Computer Driving Licence – Background
• Digital Skills to date
– ECDL Development 1997 - 2007
• Changing face of Digital Literacy
– ECDL Development 2007 – 2017
• The importance of recognised certification and
standards in an e-inclusive Europe
www.ecdl.com
International Reach of ECDL since 1997
38 Languages
6.5 Million People
146 Countries
24 Million Tests
www.ecdl.com
22,000 Test Centres
ECDL In Education
Value to Governments – Irish Case Study
•
1980’s – Ireland poorest Economy in Europe – Agriculture Based
Economy
– Unemployment 20% / Inflation 18% / Mass Migration / Pop 2.9 M
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Late 1980 – 1990’s investment in all levels of Education System with
focus on IT / Science / Languages
Massive Foreign Direct Investment from ICT Multinationals from Mid 90’s
– 2007
– Unemployment 0% / Inflation 3.5% / Net Immigration / Pop 4.1 M
– Export Oriented Indigenous IT Industry has developed
– Ireland is a knowledge based economy
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Government Unchanged for effectively last 14 yrs
Finance and Education Ministries seen as architects of success
ECDL embedded in Education Structures and National Frameworks
www.ecdl.com
Agenda
• European Computer Driving Licence – Background
• Digital Skills to date
– ECDL Development 1997 - 2007
• Changing face of Digital Literacy
– ECDL Development 2007 – 2017
• The importance of recognised certification and
standards in an e-inclusive Europe
www.ecdl.com
Changing face of Digital Skills – Digital Literacy
• 1997 – Early 2000’s
– Digital Literacy = Office Applications
• Mid 2000’s – 2015
– Digital literacy =
Office Applications
Media Literacy
Internet Competence
Content Interpretation
www.ecdl.com
Changing face of Digital Skills – Riga Declaration
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1997 > Economic - 2007 > Economic and Social
– e-Inclusion
Riga Declaration – ‘ICT Services, skills, media and content are a
growing part of economy and society’
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Cultural Diversity
Digital Literacy and Competency
e-government
e-accessability and usability
People in Society marginalised / excluded by IT
2008 – Year of e-Inclusion
Increased focus on Skills as integral to a refocused i2010 Agenda
www.ecdl.com
Changing face of Digital Skills – EU Specific Actions
•
By 2008 Countries to put in place Digital Literacy and Competence
actions through formal or informal education systems, building on
existing initiatives
•
These actions will be undertaken, where appropriate through public private
partnerships in conjunctions with initiatives on basic education and media
literacy in the areas of life long learning, e-skills and digital users rights
•
These actions will be supported by appropriate qualification schemes
building on work by industry and academics attesting to the levels of
digital literacy and competence achieved, promoting their trans-national
recognition in conformity with the European Commission Orientations on
key competences for Lifelong learning
www.ecdl.com
Agenda
• European Computer Driving Licence – Background
• Digital Skills to date
– ECDL Development 1997 - 2007
• Changing face of Digital Literacy
– ECDL Development 2007 – 2017
• The importance of recognised certification and
standards in an e-inclusive Europe
www.ecdl.com
ECDL Foundation Activities –
Developing & Promoting End User International
Certifications
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Over 1 million certifications in ECDL per year
International Panel of Experts
Release of ECDL V5 in 2007 which integrates media literacy into the
program
Creation of new basic end user certifications focusing on Media
Literacy
Growth of the e-Citizen program since 2005 through national ECDL
Operators around Europe to address e-Inclusion
Productivity Studies on ECDL show return on Investment in
Certification over untested training
ECDL adopted by Ministries / Government / Corporates around the
world since 1997
ECDL integrated into many National Qualifications frameworks across
Europe
www.ecdl.com
ECDL Foundation Activities –
Working with European Institutions to define
Standards & promote e-Inclusion
• Founding Member of the e-Skills Certification Consortium (eSCC –
www.e-scc.org
• Leading the development of a European e-Skills Users Skills
Framework in consultation with European Bodies including European
Commission
• Actively Consulting with European Commission on e-Inclusion year
2008
• Have implemented European Certified Informatics Professional
(EUCIP) – the only Pan-European Vocational IT Professional
certification
www.ecdl.com
CEPIS Activities–
Working with European Institutions to define
European Standards
• Through Council of European Professional Informatics Societies
(CEPIS) chairing the CEN ISSS Workshop on creating an ICT Skills
Framework
• Working on Leonardo project – Euro Inf - do define accreditations
standards for Informatics Professionals
• Harmonise Project creating a common Platform for Harmonising
Vocational IT certifications
• eSKills Foresights Study for the ICT Industry analysing future Supply
and Demand of IT Pracitioners
www.ecdl.com
Thank You
www.ecdl.com