Dubai - International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) GCC Foundation has launched a quality assurance drive to ensure that ICDL candidates are receiving maximum benefit of the approved training courseware for the recently launched ICDL Syllabus 4.
ICDL GCC Foundation, the governing body of ICDL programme in the Gulf states, has issued separate notices to training material providers and ICDL-accredited training centres listing the measures that need to be implemented to ensure quality, prevention of piracy and avoiding deviation from the ICDL syllabus.
The European Computer Driving License (ECDL) Foundation requires that vendors seeking approval for their courseware material have to adhere to certain standards and their material must map out to the ICDL syllabus. The Foundation also requires all its accredited training centres worldwide to use only approved content in their training of ICDL candidates.
While the ECDL Foundation formally reviews and grants its approval for courseware material produced by certain courseware providers, it is the role of its regional office in Dubai to review and approve content for use in Gulf states. ICDL GCC Foundation holds the responsibility of reviewing content against the ICDL syllabus and ensures that the content is adhering to the region's localisation requirements. Further, it is the responsibility of all content providers to obtain approval from ICDL GCC Foundation for their content, English as well as Arabic, before they can market or sell it in the Gulf region.
'The ICDL programme has witnessed exponential growth since its launch, making it mandatory to enforce more stringent requirements in order to ensure that best quality training is delivered to trainees. The campaign that we have envisioned is to ensure the use of ICDL approved courseware by accredited ICDL training centres for delivery of the ICDL training programme, related to ICDL Syllabus 4, to ensure that the end-user gains the fullest benefit. The courseware is designed not only to ensure that the candidate passes the exam, but also to provide him with higher skills that will help him improve his performance at workplace and in personal use,' said Jamil Ezzo, Director-General of ICDL GCC Foundation.
The ICDL GCC Foundation has approved the content of several vendors, but selected six to become preferred vendors namely Arab Scientific Publishers (Sybex), Aston Swann, CiA Training, Element K, ReDSOFT, Thomson NETg and Thomson Course Technology, where the respective courseware of each vendor is purchased directly through the Foundation.
© Khaleej Times 2005
