As part of its commitment to raise the general level of computer skills in society and providing access for all to the Information Society, the ICDL GCC Foundation, the governing body and certification authority of the ICDL program in the Gulf region, has announced the certification of 1,400 UAE national school students. The Foundation joined hands with Higher Colleges of Technology - Center of Excellence for applied Research and Technology (CERT ) in Abu Dhabi and UAE University in Al Ain to offer ICDL training and testing through summer camps organised during the summer months this year.
The ICDL summer camp at CERT was held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Presidential Affairs Minister, while the ICDL summer camp at the UAE University was provided under the support of H.H. Sheikh Dhiyab bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Director of Abu Dhabi Electricity and Water Authority (ADEWA).
Jamil Ezzo, Director General of ICDL GCC Foundation, said: “We appreciate the support extended by H.H. Sheikh Mansoor and H.H. Sheikh Dhiyab to this initiative which offers ICDL training for school students. Computer and Internet applications have become essential components of the modern educational environment and the ICDL certification is the ideal syllabus that gives students immense opportunities for acquiring knowledge and enhancing their skill levels. Summer camps present a suitable environment for national students to enhance their computer skills through the ICDL certification, providing lifelong learning opportunities.”
ICDL GCC Foundation coordinated with the parties involved in the implementation of the ICDL program in the summer camps, to ensure it adheres to the global standards of the ICDL.
"The ICDL program does not only help students acquire essential skills in computers and Internet, but also develops their skills to become resourceful and self-directed learners. 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. Students of today are tomorrow’s citizens, thus providing IT education to our youngsters will ensure the all round progress and development of society.”
The national students at the ICDL summer camps benefited from training and testing on the ICDL seven-module program, which included basic concepts of IT, computer usage and file management, word processing, spreadsheets, database, presentation, and Information/communications.
This year’s summer training camps held to enhance IT skills of students attracted over 7,000 students from across the GCC countries.
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About ICDL
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 36 languages, including Arabic. The programs offered are all based on one standard syllabus and question set. There are more than 26,000 centres worldwide, above 5 million candidates, more than 1 million issued certificates and over 20 million exams have been taken globally since the launch of the program year 1997.
