ECDL - Computer Skills For Life

2. ECDL - Computer Skills For Life What is ECDL? The ECDL certifies that the holder has knowledge of the essential concepts of IT and is able to use a personal computer and common computer applications at a recognised level of competence. • Test of practical skills and competencies • ECDL is a recognised standard for computer literacy • Single agreed vendor independent / generic syllabus • International Support - computer societies, international bodies, governments • Computer society ethos

3. ECDL Development The ECDL history • Finland - CDL • Employers, Unions, Govt, Education • Council of European Professional Informatics Societies (CEPIS) Task Force • European Commission - ESPRIT • Pilot Tests - April 1996 • ECDL - August 1996 • ECDL Foundation - January 1997

4. ECDL Foundation Overview • A not-for-profit global governing body of the world’s leading • computer skills certification programme • Members - computer societies in Europe • Established in January 1997 by CEPIS (Council of European Professional Informatics Societies)

5. ECDL Foundation The Mission • Help raise the general level of computer skills in society • Establish a global benchmark for core computer skills competency and ICT knowledge • Raise the level of ICT skills in the workplace • Provide an essential qualification that allows all people to participate in the Information Society • Be an inclusive programme, “Open to everyone”

6. Τhe ECDL-F Validation Process Levels of Input • CEPIS (250,000 IT Professionals) • National Computing Societies • Practicing Computing Professionals • National Operators • Test Centres / Courseware & Test Providers • Subject Matter Experts (SME’s) • Specialist Expert Groups • ECDL Candidates

7. The ECDL Programme Map Levels of Certification

8. Success & Development Community Snapshot • 138 Countries • 36 Languages • 4,780,000 Candidates • + 18,000,000 Tests • 20,000 Test Centres • Multiple Products • Entry Level • Core V4.0 • Advanced • Specialised 1% of EUROPEAN CITIZENS ARE ECDL CANDIDATES(Eurobarometer)

9. Registrations to Date Growth Snapshot Source: ECDL Foundation

10. ECDL - an Inclusive Programme Open to Everyone • Specific design to ensure equal and fair access for all people • Regardless of gender, ethnicity, physical ability, age or speciality area the ECDL certificate represents the same recognised standard for the whole community • Not for profit, commitment to raising skills, disability issues

11. ECDL - an Inclusive Programme Social Ethos • Inclusiveness: ECDL for People with Disabilities - EU Project with partners in Austria, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Norway • UNHCR - Global Catalyst Foundation project in Mtabila Refugee Camp, Tanzania • Ramallah Refugee Camp - UNESCO test centre • Zimbabwe - WorLD Links for Development Project • Chile Califica Program • Tristan da Cunha • Kabul, Sarajevo, Tsula

12. EU Activities Promoting Digital Literacy • DG EMPLOY, INFOSOC, EAC, ENTERPRISE • e-LIG e-Learning Industry Group • CEDEFOP • e-Skills Forum Copenhagen Oct ’02, Thessalonica Sept ‘04 • e-Skills Consortium Industry association • ERIS@ European Regional Information Society Association • EASK European Association for Skills & Knowledge • EIF European Internet Foundation • CEPIS

13. International Recognition Organizations all over the world The onlycomputer skills certification program adopted and recognized by: • THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION European Commission initiatives: ESDIS Committee Oct ‘02 recommended that ECDL“be accepted as a Europe-wide basic IT accreditation scheme” 500 Employees participate in ECDL pilot project • UNESCO ICDL program in Arab States delivered through UNESCO Cairo Office. • UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME April 2003: UNDP enrolled 5,000 staff members in 131 countries in the ICDL program.

14. International Recognition Significant Examples In Great Britain: • Mapped into the National Qualifications Framework • Basic IT standard for the 1.300.000 million employees of the National Health Service • Endorsed by the biggest Boroughs and Municipalities • Partly-funded through the government incentive “Individual Learning Account” In Italy: • Ministries of Labor / Education and the Headmasters Organization of Italian Universities have signed agreement for the universal recognition of ECDL • 572.000 young people, under 18, receive compensation for the purchase of PC, provided they acquire ECDL • >500 public schools are ECDL Test Centres • Ministry of Defense approved ECDL for the certification of army, navy and air force recruits

15. International Recognition Significant Examples In Ireland: • Ministries of Defense and Agriculture have taken up ECDL for their staff • 300 public schools are ECDL Test Centres • 12%of labor force possess ECDL • Mapped into the National Qualifications Framework • According to the Irish Government, ECDL has contributed significantly in the rise of the country as one of the leading European nations in “digital economy” In Austria: • Additional vocational qualification for employment in the public sector • Provided free of charge to the personnel of the Ministry of Defense and army, navy and air force recruits & officers • Supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture & Science and included in the “e-Education” action plan of the “e-Fit” initiative

16. International Recognition Significant Examples In Latvia: • 50% of IT teachers have become ECDL certified. • Requirement for graduation from secondary school In Lithuania: • Resolution “On the Approval of Training Strategy for Civil Servants for 2002–2006” states that priority objective of the civil servants’ training shall be the acquisition of basic IT skills according to ECDL standard In Hungary: • Teachers & civil servants can study free or at a low cost for ECDL certification • Final-year secondary school students may have ECDL fees reimbursed In Moldova: • All civil servants and graduates of secondary and tertiary education need to acquire ECDL, according to the National Strategy for the Information Society (2005-2010)

17. ECDLThe Global Standard For Academic Community The Universities & Colleges Information Systems Association of Great Britainis ECDL Test Centre and promotes the programme to universities Several British universities adopted ECDL for their staff & students (ieUniversity of London, Oxford University, University of Warwick, London School of Economics) British Universities like theMetropolitan University, University of Hall, Anglia Polytechnic University, University of Glamorgan, Coventry University, University of Teesside, University of Wales Bangor, have incorporated ECDL in their IT curricula and provide “academic credits” for its acquisition In Italy ECDL is compulsory for the majority of 1st-year students In Turkey, students of the universities Ege, Afyon Kocatepe, Cankaya, Maltepe and Isikwho acquire ECDL do not have to attend the module for the basic ICT skills In Greece the University of Macedonia and Aegean University are ECDL Test Centres

18. ECDLThe Global Standard For Business Community

19. ECDL in Greece Recognition by Public Sector • Organizations of the wider public sector are ECDL Test Centres (Public Power Corporation, Greek Aviation Company, Universities, Boroughs and Municipalities etc) • ECDL has been the first choice of Vocational Training Centres (KEK) in the 1st phase of the Information Society project “Training in Basic IT Skills” that has been partly-funded by the EU and the Ministry of Labor • ECDL is mentioned as required or additional qualification of basic IT skills in a variety of officially publicized job vacancies in the public division • The Hellenic Navy has created “ECDL Schools” for the provision of IT training up to the ECDL standard to sergeants, officers and recruits 1,2% of GREEK CITIZENS ARE ECDL CANDIDATES(Eurobarometer)

20. ECDL • …Gateway to the Information Society • …Gateway to e-Europe

21. Contact Details David Carpenter Chief Executive Officer The European Computer Driving Licence Foundation Ltd. Third Floor, Portview House, Thorncastle Street, Dublin 4, Ireland Phone: ++ 353 1 6306000, Fax: ++ 353 1 6306001 E-mail: david.carpenter@ecdl.com