Six-week training programme; discounted fees for students
The Dubai Electronic Public Library, managed by the Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), is conducting an International Computer Driving License (ICDL) course from January 10, 2010. The ICDL course is internationally recognized as a global benchmark in end-user computer skills certification, opening up strong career opportunities for course participants.
The six-week programme, aimed at familiarising participants with the basics of computers, is open for all members of the public with students being offered fee discounts. The course is being held at the Electronic Library in Umm Suqeim from 6pm to 9pm.
All the Dubai Public Libraries were recently lauded by the ICDL GCC Foundation, the governing body and certification authority of the ICDL programme in the Gulf region for its efforts in setting up electronic public libraries and offering digital literacy programs through its Umm Suqeim electronic library.
Mohamed Al Aredi, Dubai Public Library Director, said: “The ICDL is a global computer literacy programme, and helps raise knowledge about IT and increase personal competency in computer usage. The Dubai Public Library has a strong public interface, which helps us to reach out to a wider audience through the programme.â€
A study by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organisation (ALESCO) reports that digital illiteracy in the Arab world is 27.9 percent, compared to 19 percent globally. The course by the Electronic Library will further help address this gap in computer education.
The ICDL course includes basic training on computers and managing files, as well as training in MS Office including Word, Access, Excel and PowerPoint. The course fee is AED 1,400; students have to pay a fee of only AED 1,000.
