ICDL GCC Foundation, the governing body of the ICDL program in the GCC countries, has recently launched the ICDL Certified Training Professional (CTP) program in an effort to promote best practices and to drive up the quality of ICDL training throughout its network of 750 accredited training centres across the Gulf region.
Until recently, the provision of classroom-based training by individual trainers and training organizations has been outside the control of the ECDL/ICDL organizations. However, rigorous measures with ICDL courseware approval and policy on the use of strictly approved courseware in ICDL training have been in place for some time. These measures have ensured that quality ICDL approved training material is provided to candidates during their training. The institution of the CTP program as a requirement for all existing ICDL accredited training centres and new applicants, offers candidates further assurance about the quality of training offered by the accredited training centres.
ICDL GCC Foundation has organized a series of ICDL CTP workshops to be held at Zayed University’s Institute of Technological Innovation (ITI) and Higher Colleges of Technology’s Centre of Excellence for Applied Research and Training (CERT). Over 100 registrant ICDL trainers from accredited training centres across the Gulf region will be attending the workshop and trained by a CTP Expert visiting from Ireland.
The ICDL CTP workshop duration is 3 days, followed by a period of correspondence between the candidate and the CTP tutor, during which the candidates will work on finalising their performance and evidence records that include video taped training classes, training and session plans, and other documentary evidence. After completing all the ICDL CTP requirements, the candidate will be awarded an ICDL CTP certificate.
Qualified ICDL CTP candidates must be ICDL certified and technically competent in all 7 modules of the ICDL program. The candidate must also have considerable training or teaching experience in delivering ICDL/IT training, including course design, preparation of training plans and course evaluation.
Commenting on the newly launched program, Jamil Ezzo, Director General ICDL GCC Foundation said: “Although the overall standard of the ICDL training provided in our region has been high, we have concern about the lack of quality training provided by a few centres. CTP will ensure that all centres have competent and effective ICDL trainers. In our undertaking to promote IT literacy in the region, we consider quality an utmost priority, to encourage learners and provide them with a pleasant learning experience.
ICDL trainers, ICDL accredited training centres and ICDL candidates can equally benefit from the introduction of the ICDL CTP Program. The individual ICDL trainers will get an opportunity to develop and demonstrate their skills, enhancing their career prospects as ICDL trainers. Benefits for ICDL training centres include the opportunity to improve standards of training performance, gaining the confidence of their customers. ICDL candidates are ensured of consistent and quality training on the ICDL by the individual centres, enabling them to differentiate training providers on the basis of quality.
The ICDL GCC Foundation also plans to launch the ICDL CTP Development Program in partnership with CERT and ITI, to prepare candidates for the ICDL CTP Certification Program. This is the first step for new trainers to achieve the ICDL CTP qualification, as it provides a comprehensive training course on skill areas required for CTP trainers.
