ICDL GCC Foundation has recently praised the effort of the Abu Dhabi Educational Zone (ADEZ) in furthering IT literacy in the education sector and for its achievements in implementing the ICDL certification among its teachers and administrators, as part of its recently launched "e-Future Project". Jamil Ezzo, Director General, ICDL GCC Foundation presented a recognition award to Mohammed Salem Al Zhahiri, Director of ADEZ, underlining the cooperation between the two organizations.
Al Zhahiri thanked ICDL for its proactive support and cooperation in achieving the strategic goal of furthering IT literacy and making it an important part of UAE social life. Speaking about the role of ICDL in ADEZ's "e-Future Project", “applying the latest technology in our educational and administrative operations is a priority. Implementing the ICDL program is essential to the success of our "e-Future project" as it empowers our teachers and administrators, with the required skills to maximize the benefit from this project”.
“We are glad to honour ADEZ and extend our token of appreciation in recognition for its role in furthering IT literacy and for its "e-Future Project" initiative. We are extremely proud that the ICDL certification was made an integral part of this important nationalistic project. ICDL GCC Foundation and ADEZ share the common objective in that to raise the level of IT skills in the country,” said Jamil Ezzo.
The "e-Future Project" encompasses 32 affiliate schools to ADEZ. School administrations, students, teachers, advisory board and parents will greatly benefit from this project. Furthermore, this project allows the monitoring of teachers’ performance in electronic lab classes, requiring them to enrich teaching with internet sourced information; and engaging students in activities that involve web research. A special committee, part of the educational board of the zone has been formed to implement and monitor the progress of this project, as well as study its impact on the performance of the schools.
For the past three years, ADEZ has been instrumental in raising ICDL awareness among teachers and employees, encouraging them to obtain the certification. ICDL training and certification were offered to teachers and employees at affiliated ICDL accredited centres and reputable Training institutes, as well as prominent UAE universities including Higher Colleges of Technology, Zayed University, UAE University.
ADEZ has an approved ICDL training and testing centre accredited by the ICDL GCC Foundation, offering its employees the training and testing at a symbolic price. The Zone has also provided its teachers and employees with “e-training cards” to access online interactive ICDL course by paying a refundable deposit that will be redeemed when they pass the test before the deadline of October 1, 2005.
The Abu Dhabi Educational Zone is currently planning to implement programmes that encourage the rest of the employees of all categories to complete the ICDL by creating a competitive environment. Currently, statistics show that over 3,000 employees of the zone and its schools have completed their ICDL certification.
Additionally, ADEZ in association with Higher Colleges of Technology, Zayed University, and UAE University, has been conducting, for the third year in row, ICDL summer camps that offer ICDL training and certification for high schools students.
