As part of its ongoing commitment to further computer literacy in the UAE and the Gulf region, the ICDL GCC Foundation, the governing body of the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) programme in the Gulf countries joined hands recently with HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum IT Education Project (ITEP) and UAE University to provide ICDL training and testing to 2,000 UAE National school students at summer camps held in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
ICDL GCC Foundation coordinated with ITEP and UAE University to ensure effective implementation of the ICDL programme at the summer camps, adhering to the international standards set by European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL), the global regulatory body of the ICDL programme in the member states. The ICDL summer camps were held at 19 public schools in Abu Dhabi and the UAE University campus in Al Ain.
The ICDL summer camps were held under the sponsorship of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Presidential Affairs, and HH Sheikh Dhiyab bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Director General of the Presidential Court and Director of Abu Dhabi Electricity and Water Authority (ADEWA) and HH Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Education.
"We would like to express our gratitude to HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, HH Sheikh Dhiyab bin Zayed Al Nahyan and HH Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan for their initiatives and continuous support to offer ICDL certification to school students," said Jamil Ezzo, Director General of ICDL GCC Foundation. "This is the third consecutive year that ICDL is part of the summer camps, designed to help students become adequately proficient in Information Technology. We are glad to have partnered with ITEP and UAE University in organizing these camps, and appreciate the exemplary commitment they have shown in supporting and offering the programme in accordance with the international standards of the ICDL programme."
"The ICDL programme does not only help students acquire essential skills in computers and Internet, but also develops their skills to become resourceful and self-directed learner. This encourages them to assume more responsibility in their learning process and become self-confident to engage in classroom activities. Today, computers and Internet afford students the opportunity of accessing a wealth of interactive courses and information online that can support classroom learning and attribute positively to students’ academic performance," Ezzo added.
The 2,000 school national students at the ICDL summer camps benefited from training and testing on the ICDL seven-module programme, which included basic concepts of IT, computer usage and file management, word processing, spreadsheets, database, presentation, and Information/communications.
"ICDL has become the international de facto standard for basic computer literacy in education and training at all levels, from elementary school to university and college, vocational institutions and corporate training. In the UAE, ICDL has been made mandatory for all teachers in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and other emirates, in order to ensure they receive world-class computer training that make them suitably conversant in IT and help them efficiently carry out their responsibilities. We remain committed to improve knowledge of IT and enhance the general level of competence in using personal computers and software applications among all sections of the society in the UAE and across the Gulf region," Ezzo concluded.
International Computer Driving License (ICDL), is an internationally recognized computer proficiency standard that is owned by the European Computer Driving License Foundation (ECDL) and introduced by the UNESCO's Cairo Office (UCO) for Arab states in 2001, is gaining increasing acceptance in the Middle East, with several governments adopting and prescribing it to their employees. The ICDL program exists in over 140 countries, and is offered in 40 languages, including Arabic. The programs offered are all based on one standard syllabus and question set. There are more than 15,000 centres worldwide, above 5 million candidates, more than 1 million issued certificates and over 15 million exams have been taken globally since the launch of the program year 1997.
About ICDL GCC Foundation
ICDL GCC Foundation was created by the ECDL Foundation, the not-for-profit global governing body of the ECDL and ICDL member countries dedicated to helping raise the general level of computer skills in societies and providing access for all to the information society, to serve the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Member States with their implementation of IT literacy and for providing them with localized support to ensure quality of ICDL programs. The ICDL GCC Foundation is the sole accreditation body that is responsible to support ICDL accredited training and testing centers in the GCC. It also acts as the reviewing and approving body for the local adaptation of ICDL programs.
