New ICDL Digital literacy centres on Sultan Qaboos University Campus

ICDL GCC Foundation, the governing body and certification authority of the International Computer Driving License (ICDL) programme in the Gulf region has announced the accreditation of the Center for Community Service and Continuing Education at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU), to offer on campus, digital literacy based on the international standards of the ICDL program, to the student population, faculty, staff and the Omani society.

Jamil Ezzo, Director General, ICDL GCC Foundation said,

"ICDL GCC Foundation has been committed to providing access to world class training in basic IT skills to the entire society in the Gulf region. The recent roll-out of the 'Digital Oman' initiative which aims to transform Oman into a Digital Society will help in furthering the scope of ICDL in the Sultanate of Oman. With an ever increasing number of ICDL accredited centers in Oman, the ICDL GCC Foundation continues to play a pivotal role in spreading digital literacy in the country. Sultan Qaboos University shares our vision in empowering society through the delivery of targeted knowledge that helps develop equitable skills in the new knowledge economy."

At present, the Sultanate of Oman has a network of over 400 ICDL accredited training and testing centers that encompasses schools, universities and private training institutions. This figure is set to witness a further surge in the coming years, with the government's concerted efforts to promote eGovernance and create a digital society.

ICDL GCC Foundation was created to administer the ICDL program in the GCC member states, and has since been relentlessly striving to spread IT literacy in society by working directly with the governments and policymakers. The foundation recognizes the decisive role that teachers and parents play in developing IT skills of students.

"The ICDL GCC Foundation will offer dedicated support to the new accredited training centre by way of close supervision of content quality and teaching to ensure that it meets stringent ICDL international standards. We are stepping up efforts to reduce the digital divide in the region by promoting IT literacy and equipping the community with the required IT skills," Ezzo concluded.

ICDL certifies that the holder has knowledge of the essential concepts of IT and is able to use a personal computer and common computer applications at a recognised level of competence. The ICDL program is open to everyone and is designed in such a manner that it ensures equal and fair access to all people.

Since its introduction in 2001 by the UNESCO's Cairo Office (UCO), the ICDL programme has been generating excellent results and the ICDL GCC Foundation is building on these results to further the implementation of the world-class IT literacy programme in the GCC region according.