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Read more2022 has been a busy year at ICDL Ireland. We’d like to share some of the highlights with you so please read on below to see what we were up to this year and events across the digital skills landscape in Ireland and beyond. Spring 2022 Spring 2022 was the season when we emerged from …
Read MoreRecent research from Salesforce has shown that only 32% of Irish workers are confident that they have the skills they need for the digital workplace, but that the vast majority are planning to upskill in this area. The top workplace digital skills for employees in Ireland are skills to use collaborative technology, digital administrative skills, …
Read MoreWe’re pleased to be able to offer schools with the ICT bundle free access to 4 brand new ICDL modules. ICDL Insights These short, introductory modules provide conceptual understanding of emerging technology to those who are not IT professionals. The modules you now have access to are: Cloud Computing, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and Big Data. …
Read MoreUpdated: June 2021 As Covid restrictions are now starting to ease, we wanted to remind you that ICDL Ireland is still here to help. Find out more below about making the best of ICDL in this different learning environment. Covid-proof digital learning and testing Covid has challenged you all to think differently about how learners …
Read MoreICDL Ireland is a partner in an innovative and ambitious project to develop the digital competences of young women who are at risk of exclusion from the labour market, by improving their employability. “Women4IT” is a multi-stakeholder partnership funded by the EEA Grants and the Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment. We aim to select …
Read MoreEducation systems across the world are being impacted by COVID-19. Almost 900 million children and young people are affected by interruptions in their education and this number is growing. The response from education systems across the globe has been to turn to technological solutions to continue to engage their students in learning. As education systems …
Read MoreThe coronavirus pandemic disrupted the education and training of learners across the world. In particular, learners from a disadvantaged background risk falling further behind, as distanced learning continues and the debate rages on about how to get learners back into classrooms as safely as possible. A recent report published by Cedefop, the European Centre for the …
Read MoreA new scheme announced by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD and Minister of State Niall Collins TD will provide €168 million of funding for third level institutions and students. Notably, this new scheme includes €15 million to help us address the digital divide and give students the …
Read MorePlease note: applications have now closed. Minister McHugh announces online registration for Leaving Certificate Calculated Grades opened on Tuesday 26 May. All 2020 Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied students were able to register on gov.ie/leavingcertificate. The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD today (Monday 25 May 2020) announced that the new online …
Read MoreAll ICDL courses offer free online practice tests called Diagnostic Tests to help you diagnose what digital skills you need to work on the most. What is an ICDL diagnostic test? Diagnostic tests are a kind of practice or mock assessment of your skills for a specific ICDL course. They contain similar questions to the …
Read MoreECDL/ICDL is now free on fetchcourses.ie to support those affected by the ongoing Covid-19 crisis. SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority, has made ECDL/ICDL resources available for free on the SOLAS online learning service as a support to learners who have been impacted by the current containment measures. Students can now access 10 ECDL …
Read MoreThe Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh TD has today (Wednesday 22 April 2020) announced a special €10 million fund to support the purchase of technology and devices for disadvantaged students. A total of €7 million additional funding will be provided in the post-primary sector and €3 million in the primary sector. “Providing €10 …
Read MoreICDL Europe will be remaining active during the Covid-19 crisis to help support all users of the ICDL programme in Europe. While this is an exceptionally difficult time, we will be taking steps to support the continued operation of the ICDL programme in Europe. ICDL Europe is working closely with National Operators of the ICDL …
Read MoreLife has changed suddenly and the skills we need to cope with this new reality have changed too. By Mary Cleary, the Secretary-General of the Irish Computer Society, which runs Tech Week. We often talk about life skills and in “normal” times, there is little disagreement on what those are. Apart from specific job-related skills, literacy, numeracy …
Read MoreThe Central Statistics Office, PDST Maths, and Scoilnet have come together to re-design and launch the new CensusAtSchool website. CensusAtSchool is an online educational project that takes place every year with the aim of bringing statistics to life in the classroom. Schools take part voluntarily. Supervised by teachers, students use a variety of digital devices …
Read MoreAre users an organisation’s greatest weakness? ICDL Ireland, along with The Irish Computer Society and the Association of Data Protection Officers, has launched a set of complementary modules designed to inform workers of the dangers of individual user error and resultant data breaches. ICS Secure User Certification comprises of two courses: IT Security and Data …
Read MoreMinister announces fourth year of funding under Project Ireland 2040 which takes total spend on Digital Strategy for Schools ICT Infrastructure Fund to €160m All schools will receive grants to purchase key technology such as tablets, cloud systems, projectors The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D. has today announced a further €50million investment …
Read MoreAthlone VTOS students recently graduated at a certificate ceremony that was held in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel. The certification was provided by QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland) at Levels Four and Five and the Irish Computer Society Foundation provided certification for the European Computer Driving Licence [now ICDL] course. This year there were 48 certificates …
Read MoreThe results of the International Computer and Information Literacy Study 2018 were published earlier this month. They highlight the fallacy of ‘digital natives’ being digitally competent through exposure to digital devices. Shockingly, only 2% of students in the study showed an ability to assess online information critically. ICILS, which is published by the International Association …
Read MoreICDL Ireland won for the second year in a row at this year’s European Best Practice awards for the launch of our new digital certificates for ICDL candidates. Since June 2019 almost 50,000 students have been sent their digital certificate. ICDL Ireland and Irish Computer Society CEO Jim Friars said, ‘I am delighted to see …
Read MoreICDL is the digital skills standard. We’ve worked together with SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority of Ireland, to offer you free digital skills elearning on a wide range of subjects. You can access the free elearning through your local ETB college which are based across the country. How can ICDL help me? Recent …
Read MoreICDL in Further Education As you probably know ICDL comprises eLearning, webinars, online practice tests, automatically-marked certification tests and digital certificates. ICDL is a prime example of technology-enhanced learning that gives students the best chance of success while maintaining the high standards of a world-leading certification. Employers, educators and funding bodies, including Solas and the …
Read MoreJust as today’s employees, students and citizens need to be flexible, so do the programmes on offer. Whether we are preparing students for the workforce for the first time, helping them get back into the workforce or preparing them for further study, we share a responsibility to ensure they have the right mix of competences. …
Read MoreAs part of our rebrand, one of our first steps was to invite past ECDL holders to claim their ICDL Digital Certificate. Since launching in June over 50,000 Digital ICDL Certs have been issued to past candidates, meaning students can access and share their ICDL record instantly! You can still register for your digital cert …
Read MoreUp to 100% funding is now available to SMEs for ICDL eLearning, testing and certification through the Skills To Advance programme. Skills to Advance is a new government initiative that offers upskilling and reskilling opportunities to employees in lower level jobs. It benefits employees and SMEs through education and training. Additionally, Skills to advance can …
Read MoreRecent European-wide statistics have shown that a lack of digital literacy increasingly implicates one’s full potential of being a competent student, an empowered employee or an engaged citizen. By readily adopting modern technology, digital citizens must be ready to accept that to be ‘digitally literate’ is to be acutely aware of these practices, including the …
Read MoreYou may not have realised, but digital marketing encompasses a wide range of skills, including copywriting, editing, email marketing, social media, search engine optimisation, video production, analytics, content management, user experience and business strategy. A long list you’ll agree. This means that there is a wide variety of career options for anyone who has a …
Read More_ One year into the project: 2 extensive studies, 7 collaboration platforms and 8 digital job profiles have been developed. “Women4IT” partners enter the second year of the project with ambition to create innovative solutions promoting the employment of young women into digital jobs. September marks the end of the first year of the “YOUNG-ICT …
Read MoreTeam Ireland have returned home after a successful showing at the WorldSkills Competition in Russia. Ireland’s team brought the advantage of their good IT skills to win them one of the gold medals and the Best in Nation medal. At the WorldSkills Competition 2019, the Irish team, which was made up of 17 young apprentices, …
Read MoreThere can be few people today who don’t encounter information technology in the workplace. Of course, offices started to transform in the 1980s but today everyone, from shop assistants to bar staff, will use a computing device at some point during the working day. Indeed, with the mobile revolution in full flow, even lorry drivers, …
Read MoreThe European Commission has published the final report of the pilot project, “Digital Skills: New Professions, New Educational Methods, New jobs”. The main action of the project was to develop blueprints for training programmes that would help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to furnish their employees with the necessary digital competences. The study has identified the most sought-after skills for SME employees, and consequently …
Read MoreDigital skills training contributes to 15% growth at Canon France. A short interview with ICDL and a Canon group company who have been using ICDL as part of their hugely successful digital transformation.
Read MoreECDL Foundation is launching a refreshed digital skills certification and brand identity that will help meet the digital skills needs of students, workers and professionals across Europe at a time when technologies are developing faster than ever before. ICDL, the new name for the programme will be launched at an event in Brussels on 10 May.
Read MoreSince 2007 Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh, Cork have been at the forefront of ICT in Education. Here we look at what has made this school so good at developing digital schools for its students.
Read MoreMinister McHugh today (Monday March 4th) announces third year of funding under Project Ireland 2040 takes total spend on Digital Strategy for Schools ICT Infrastructure Fund to €110m. All schools will receive grants to purchase key technology including tablets, cloud systems, projectors The Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D. has today announced a …
Read MoreSureSkills and the. ECDL Ireland have joined as national partners for ICDL Workforce. Technology is changing the workplace at an ever faster pace. Existing jobs are evolving and new ones are appearing. One thing is certain: digital skills are vital in the workforce.
Read MoreA new report by UNESCO has highlighted the ICDL programme as a significant example of a digital skills framework around the world.
Read MoreThere is a bigger challenge when it comes to computing for everyone and in particular for young people. Even those who have an aptitude for coding may not have the maturity to discern the difference between reliable and unreliable information.
Read MoreCurriculum overload is an issue in Ireland. Our education system is pressured to integrate numerous subjects in already tight schedules and our teachers have to rapidly adapt to the changing needs.
Read MoreIf I were to ask you do Irish students really need to learn Geography or even Mathematics at school any more you might be shocked. How could you even ask, you might say. But what do we really remember from those subjects?
Read MoreAimed at 12-16 year olds, the module will help candidates build and certify skills in areas like computational thinking, problem solving, algorithms and coding. It is aimed at the education sector, particularly secondary school students, and their teachers.
Read MoreComputing and digital literacy are two sides of the same coin that both need to be included in compulsory education. The latest position paper from ICDL Foundation argues strongly that students should have the opportunity to develop computing skills and to build a strong foundation of digital literacy.
Read MoreLimerick & Clare ETB are leading the way in providing triple certified training for those looking for a qualification in Office Administration with their QQI Level 5 Major Award in Office Administration with Digital Marketing and ECDL.
Read MoreAs you are aware up until recently we have always run tester training on specific dates at specific locations around the country. This meant if you were looking to do training you would have to find the closest one to you and arrange the time off from work or school in order to attend. This …
Read MoreResearch by ICDL Foundation and national providers in seven countries has found that self-assessment is a poor measure of digital skills. More than 80% of 15-24 year olds worldwide are online. This gives the impression that by having access to digital technologies, people, and particularly young people, automatically learn how to use them. People tend …
Read MoreThe European Commission has adopted new initiatives to improve key competences and digital skills of European citizens, to promote common values and pupils' awareness of the functioning of the European Union.
Read MoreDundalk-based Grásta Christian School is one of the first schools in Ireland, and within Europe, to use Scratch and Google CS-First Curriculum to teach their pupils how computer systems are used in real world industries.
Read MoreA new report from CEDEFOP, the European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training, has examined the skills that people will need to keep up with new digital developments.
Read MoreEnsuring that everyone has the right skills for an increasingly digital and globalised world is essential to create jobs and to spur innovation, productivity and growth.
Read MoreIt all seemed quite complicated, it wasn’t it just seemed that way until someone showed you how easy it actually was. The teacher took away your fear, got you started and away you went. Anyone who has ever tried to learn a musical instrument might remember this. You pick out a few notes and imagine yourself playing concert halls and football stadiums.
Read MoreThe constant challenge for every teacher is how do you teach a classroom of students of different abilities and aptitudes at the same time without leaving someone either bored or left behind?
Read MoreIn early January Richard Bruton, Minister for Education and Skills, announced he is investing €30m in ICT infrastructure grants for primary and post-primary schools. This announcement markets the start of the €210 million Digital Strategy for Schools.
Read MoreLow motivation and poor productivity are bound to affect a business and jeopardise its sustainability. In this post we will look at the different techniques companies now use to increase productivity in the workplace.
Read MoreStarting and running a business is a big step for anyone to take. Your world revolves around activities like coming up with a business plan, finding funding, building relationships with customers and marketing your products, registering with the authorities, solving day-to-day problems and handling the day-to-day administrative tasks like accounting and taxes.
Read MoreLast Tuesday we completed our second 'Overview of ICS Computing Curriculum modules with a focus on computational thinking' workshop. Overall it was a great success and the feedback we got from it outstanding.
Read MoreECDL Ireland is inviting visitors to explore its new website, blog and join its revamped newsletter. The new website has been designed to provide a great user experience and provide our visitors with all the information they need.
Read MoreThe European Commission’s e-Skills awareness raising campaigns have contributed to reduce the gap in the European Union between demand and supply of digital skills jobs.
Read MoreOctober is the European Cybersecurity month, ICDL has been focusing on IT security and ways that you can stay safe online. This time last year we celebrated Cybersecurity month with the release of version 2 of ICDL IT Security. Already thousands of people around Ireland have used it to build their knowledge and skills to protect themselves online.
Read MoreICDL Ireland is delighted to announce a new component under our education initiatives; The Bebras® Computing Challenge! The Bebras® Computing Challenge introduces computational thinking and computer science to students, by allowing them to solve interactive tasks online.
Read MoreThe Irish Defence Forces have noted the benefits that ECDL brings to their personnel at training institutions, on Naval ships, or on overseas missions.
Read MoreDeputy CEO of the Irish Computer Society (ICS), Tom O’Sullivan, discusses how the new ICDL Workforce solution can be integrated with current course offerings in further education and training.
Read MoreReflecting the needs of the modern IT professional, ICDL Ireland has introduced ICDL Workforce, the new standard in digital skills for all workers.
Read MoreThe Computing Curricula 2020 (CC2020) is a joint project launched by international professional computing societies to examine the current curricular guidelines for academic degree programs in computing and provide a vision for the future of computing. A final draft report has now been produced, so you and your colleagues are invited to review the draft …
Read MoreAll ICDL courses offer free online practice tests called Diagnostic Tests to help you diagnose what digital skills you need to work on the most. What is an ICDL diagnostic test? Diagnostic tests are a kind of practice or mock assessment of your skills for a specific ICDL course. They contain similar questions to the …
Read MoreICDL Europe will be remaining active during the Covid-19 crisis to help support all users of the ICDL programme in Europe. While this is an exceptionally difficult time, we will be taking steps to support the continued operation of the ICDL programme in Europe. ICDL Europe is working closely with National Operators of the ICDL …
Read MoreLife has changed suddenly and the skills we need to cope with this new reality have changed too. By Mary Cleary, the Secretary-General of the Irish Computer Society, which runs Tech Week. We often talk about life skills and in “normal” times, there is little disagreement on what those are. Apart from specific job-related skills, literacy, numeracy …
Read MoreToday, being digitally competent means that people need to have skills in a range of areas if they are to stay safe and make the most of our increasingly digital world. As part of the European Commission’s effort to ensure all European citizens attain the digital skills required to full participate in society and the …
Read MoreICDL Ireland won for the second year in a row at this year’s European Best Practice awards for the launch of our new digital certificates for ICDL candidates. Since June 2019 almost 50,000 students have been sent their digital certificate. ICDL Ireland and Irish Computer Society CEO Jim Friars said, ‘I am delighted to see …
Read MoreJust as today’s employees, students and citizens need to be flexible, so do the programmes on offer. Whether we are preparing students for the workforce for the first time, helping them get back into the workforce or preparing them for further study, we share a responsibility to ensure they have the right mix of competences. …
Read MoreUp to 100% funding is now available to SMEs for ICDL eLearning, testing and certification through the Skills To Advance programme. Skills to Advance is a new government initiative that offers upskilling and reskilling opportunities to employees in lower level jobs. It benefits employees and SMEs through education and training. Additionally, Skills to advance can …
Read MoreYou may not have realised, but digital marketing encompasses a wide range of skills, including copywriting, editing, email marketing, social media, search engine optimisation, video production, analytics, content management, user experience and business strategy. A long list you’ll agree. This means that there is a wide variety of career options for anyone who has a …
Read MoreThe European Commission has published the final report of the pilot project, “Digital Skills: New Professions, New Educational Methods, New jobs”. The main action of the project was to develop blueprints for training programmes that would help Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to furnish their employees with the necessary digital competences. The study has identified the most sought-after skills for SME employees, and consequently …
Read MoreECDL Foundation is launching a refreshed digital skills certification and brand identity that will help meet the digital skills needs of students, workers and professionals across Europe at a time when technologies are developing faster than ever before. ICDL, the new name for the programme will be launched at an event in Brussels on 10 May.
Read MoreA new report by UNESCO has highlighted the ICDL programme as a significant example of a digital skills framework around the world.
Read MoreAs you are aware up until recently we have always run tester training on specific dates at specific locations around the country. This meant if you were looking to do training you would have to find the closest one to you and arrange the time off from work or school in order to attend. This …
Read MoreResearch by ICDL Foundation and national providers in seven countries has found that self-assessment is a poor measure of digital skills. More than 80% of 15-24 year olds worldwide are online. This gives the impression that by having access to digital technologies, people, and particularly young people, automatically learn how to use them. People tend …
Read MoreCESI recently launched a Computer Science Community of Practice in partnership with Google and the Association of Teachers’/Education Centres in Ireland (ATECI). The expected membership of the CoP will be educators representing all regions of Ireland and will nurture practice-led collaboration at local levels between teachers, schools, universities and industry, and support teachers in the introduction of …
Read MoreCongratulations to Irish Defense Forces who completed their first ECDL Advanced certifications in Spreadsheets, Word Processing, Presentations and Databases.
Read MoreIt all seemed quite complicated, it wasn’t it just seemed that way until someone showed you how easy it actually was. The teacher took away your fear, got you started and away you went. Anyone who has ever tried to learn a musical instrument might remember this. You pick out a few notes and imagine yourself playing concert halls and football stadiums.
Read MoreLow motivation and poor productivity are bound to affect a business and jeopardise its sustainability. In this post we will look at the different techniques companies now use to increase productivity in the workplace.
Read MoreThe European Commission’s e-Skills awareness raising campaigns have contributed to reduce the gap in the European Union between demand and supply of digital skills jobs.
Read MoreThe Irish Defence Forces have noted the benefits that ECDL brings to their personnel at training institutions, on Naval ships, or on overseas missions.
Read MoreFlight Sergeant Will Fitzgerald, Chief Information Technologies Instructor at the Defence Forces, has offered some thoughts on the integration of ICDL into the Irish Defence Forces and how important it is for their personal development.
Read MoreDeputy CEO of the Irish Computer Society (ICS), Tom O’Sullivan, discusses how the new ICDL Workforce solution can be integrated with current course offerings in further education and training.
Read MoreMore than 5,700 candidates have been registered by the French National School of Active Non-Commissioned Officers (ENSOA).
Read MoreEducation systems across the world are being impacted by COVID-19. Almost 900 million children and young people are affected by interruptions in their education and this number is growing. The response from education systems across the globe has been to turn to technological solutions to continue to engage their students in learning. As education systems …
Read MoreICDL Europe will be remaining active during the Covid-19 crisis to help support all users of the ICDL programme in Europe. While this is an exceptionally difficult time, we will be taking steps to support the continued operation of the ICDL programme in Europe. ICDL Europe is working closely with National Operators of the ICDL …
Read MoreECDL Foundation is launching a refreshed digital skills certification and brand identity that will help meet the digital skills needs of students, workers and professionals across Europe at a time when technologies are developing faster than ever before. ICDL, the new name for the programme will be launched at an event in Brussels on 10 May.
Read MoreAt the ECDL Foundation Forum 2018, held in Prague, the entry submitted by ECDL Ireland was voted to be an outstanding example of best practice in the ECDL and ICDL in Society category.
Read MoreIn Sept 2006 Actor Martin Sheen, AKA Ramon Estevez, registered as an arts student at the National University of Ireland (NUI) Galway, taking classes in English Literature, Philosophy and Oceanography. Star of the acclaimed TV series 'The West Wing', and of many memorable movies including Apocalypse Now and Badlands, Sheen took a break from his illustrious acting career to immerse himself in campus life.
Read MoreThe Norwegian Refugee Council has celebrated granting its 1000th ICDL certificate to a refugee. The Al Zaatari Refugee camp was accredited as a Test Centre by Specto in 2014.
Read MoreThe Norwegian Refugee Council has celebrated granting its 1000th ICDL certificate to a refugee. The Al Zaatari Refugee camp was accredited as a Test Centre by Specto in 2014.
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