Home > News & Events

News & Events

An Agreement to Avail ICDL to more than one Million Citizen 31 May 2006 Dr. Tarek Kamel, Minster of Communications and Information Technology along with Dr. Ahmed Darwish, Minister of State for Administrative Development and Dr. Yousry El Gamal, Minister of Education and Dr. Hany Helal, Minster of Higher Education and Scientific Research signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to avail the International Computer Driving License (ICDL) to more than one million citizen throughout the coming five years. Such protocol comes as part of the country's efforts to raise awareness of Egypt's Information Society and actualize the Egyptian Educational Initiative. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) and the European Computer Driving License (ECDL) Foundation signed an agreement licensing the ICDL to the MCIT with a lower cost. Dr. Ekram Fathy, Advisor to the Minister for Human Resource Development and Training signed the protocol along with Mr. Demeian Sullivan. The vitality of ICDL resides in being an international indicator for quality assurance and assessment of the competencies and skills of the end beneficiaries who are university students, newly graduates, professors, researches, and governmental employees. According to the agreement, MCIT will be responsible for all charges pertaining to the use of ECDL Concepts and Trade Marks, supervision and implementation of tests at the accredited test centers, together with the recruitment of the needed technical staff. Furthermore, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will be responsible for quality control whereas a reputable Egyptian company will host the training programs. Ministries of State for Administrative Development, Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research will be responsible for providing the training services and covering the application and testing charges. The training programs will be conducted in over 210 accredited training centers and 60 accredited testing centers. ICDL is an internationally accredited certificate that is issued by the UNESCO. The license provides more opportunity for employment in both public and private organizations in the market. License holders have basic IT knowledge, are able to manage files, use spreadsheets, databases, prepare presentations, and employ technology for effective communication and information use.

About MCIT Egypt's Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) was established in October 1999 to facilitate the country's assimilation into the global information society. Its mandate is to support the development of the local ICT industry, thereby boosting exports and creating jobs; promote the use of ICT nationwide as a means to achieve national development goals and build the foundations of the knowledge society in Egypt in close collaboration with other governmental, civil society and private sector entities. www.mcit.gov.eg

About Ministry of Higher Education The Ministry of Higher Education is responsible for the formulation of policies for the higher education sector, the allocation of public funds and other physical resources to universities and advanced technological institutes, the establishment of new universities and recognition of new degree awarding Institutions and the establishment of new Faculties of the Universities. www.egy-mhe.gov.eg

About Ministry of Education The Ministry of Education is responsible for all K-12 schools in Egypt- a total of 36,332 private and public schools with over 15 million students (2004). The ministry aims to harness technology to improve the education process and create a new generation of developers for the workforce. www.emoe.org

About Ministry of State for Administrative Development The Ministry of State for Administrative Development works on facilitating an administrative system capable of keeping pace with change, while practicing no authority over citizens. Rather, the system offers distinguished services accurately and efficiently, delivering them to the citizen's location at his or her convenience. It also allows the citizen to effectively participate in the implementation process. www.ad.gov.eg

About ECDL Foundation ECDL Foundation is the global standards and certification body for the ECDL and ICDL end-user computer skills certification programs. It's a not-for-profit organization dedicated to raising the level of computer skills in society and providing access for all to the Information Society. With over 9 million candidates participating in a range of programs, ECDL Foundation has set the global benchmark in end-user skills certification. www.ecdl.org

About UNESCO Cairo Office The UNESCO Cairo Office, Regional Office for Science and Technology For the Arab states, is one of the major field offices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural organization (UNESCO). Established in 1947, the Office Currently serves 17 Arab states. Its mission, like all other UNESCO field offices and units, is to contribute to peace and security in the world by promoting intellectual Cooperation among nations through education, science, culture, and communication. www.unescoicdl.org

< BACK