Brother Gulf, the Middle East subsidiary of Brother Japan, a global leader in the development and manufacturing of printing, communication and digital imaging products for homes, SOHOs and enterprises, will grant major prizes to top-performing participants at the International Computer Driving License (ICDL) summer camps on-going across the GCC, in line with its commitment towards expanding IT literacy in the region. The initiative, which has been organised by various regional academic organisations and universities and overseen by the ICDL GCC Foundation, will run from June 01 to October 31, 2010.
Participants from all over the region are undergoing extensive computer training, as well as lectures on how to use computers ethically and safely based on the standards set by ICDL, and afterwards be awarded with an ICDL certification. Upon completion of the training, candidates are expected to be more equipped to improve their academic or professional performance, which can open up significant opportunities for growth among regional economies in today's information age. In addition to supporting the development of IT knowledge in the region, Brother's active participation in the ICDL initiative is aimed at combating the growing concern on the shortage of IT skills in the Middle East.
"Probably the most alarming of all the effects of the IT skills shortage in the region is the decline in customer service levels, and in order to consistently provide outstanding value to our customers worldwide, providing training that will help develop the youth's IT competence should take precedence," said Shinji Tada, Managing Director, Brother Gulf. "Our support for this initiative underlines our belief that such actions will create an important catalyst, especially among the youth to pursue excellence in the realm of information technology, which in the end will benefit us all."
A vendor-neutral digital literacy program that is acknowledged through testing, ICDL provides intensive training on fundamental skills in IT, using the computer, managing files, word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation and handling of the internet and e-mail. Being held for the eighth consecutive year in the GCC, the ICDL Summer Camp is organised in the UAE in cooperation with Abu Dhabi University, UAE University, UAE Academy, Sharjah University and Higher Colleges of Technology (Center of Excellence for Applied Research and Training - CERT). It is also being staged in Kuwait, in cooperation with Kuwait University and a selection of approved centers, as well as in Qatar. More than 10,000 male and female students 18 years and below from different GCC countries are participating in the ICDL Summer Camps 2010, where they aim to earn the ICDL certificate, which is recognised and endorsed by education ministries, universities and government organisations worldwide.
"The overwhelming support we have been receiving from regional companies such as Brother Gulf is a tremendous encouragement and an uplifting indication of the private sector's interest in furthering the IT competence of students and professionals in the region. We are confident of the impact this initiative will create in the level of IT competence in the Middle East, which makes the enthusiasm of leading companies support our initiatives most importantly," said Jamil Ezzo, Director General, ICDL GCC Foundation.
