In today’s digital era, employers must empower their workforce with essential skills for sustained competitiveness. From boosting productivity to gaining a competitive edge, investing in digital skills training elevates individual skills and enhances organisational adaptability in the ever-evolving digital landscape. ICDL makes it easy for employers to upskill their employees and stay ahead in the competitive business environment.
How do you measure digital skills? How do you work out whether a candidate for a job has the skills and competences that they will need to do the work? Letting people self-assess their skills can seem like a simple solution, but it brings a big risk that they will misjudge their abilities.
ICDL Foundation’s ‘Perception & Reality’ report brings together the results of research into self-perception of digital skills, and the reality, measured with a practical test. The new report includes findings from studies conducted in Singapore and India, reinforcing the original findings from five European countries.
Read the full Perception & Reality Report
Organisations face a challenge in accurately assessing digital skills and their impact on productivity. ICDL’s ‘Perception & Reality’ report reveals a common trend of overestimating digital abilities. ICDL Compass, our online digital skills assessment tool, addresses this challenge by assessing employee’s digital competence, targeting the digital skills which have the maximum impact on organisational effectiveness. Employers can use these assessments to gauge the proficiency of their workforce and make informed decisions about training needs and resource allocation.
ICDL, through a combination of ICDL Compass test results and needs analysis, tailors a targeted training plan for your organisation. This plan, based on specific ICDL programs and modules, bridges skills gaps, enhances daily tasks, and fosters advanced digital skills. ICDL’s solutions extend to strategic management, offering a conceptual understanding of emerging technologies. Our goal is to boost productivity, maximise your training budget, and guide your organisation in embracing future technologies effectively.
Certification ensures employees possess the digital skills to maximise their potential and organisational success and provides valuable data for future training needs. Measuring digital skills improvement post-training showcases individual and organisational progress, proving the return on investment. Additionally, investing in employee development through ICDL partnership fosters a culture of continuous learning, promoting higher engagement, job satisfaction, and retention.
From an organisation’s standpoint, selecting the right modules is vital. Choosing modules that align with the organisation’s goals enhances employee skills, productivity, and adaptability. This strategic approach boosts the organisation’s competitiveness, attracts talent seeking relevant training, and fosters a dynamic workforce. It creates a symbiotic relationship between organisational objectives and employee skill development, contributing to overall success.
For simplicity, we have grouped our modules into five ICDL Programmes that concentrate on specific facets of digital skills, aligned with the requirements of the today’s digital world. Work through the programme modules or select any number of modules from any programme, to build you own customised set of modules to suit your specific needs, which we call an ICDL Profile.
Recommended to prepare learners for the modern workplace. Suitable for learners who wish to secure employment in any modern office environment. Individuals who complete all six modules in the ICDL CORE Programme receive an ‘ICDL Certificate of Digital Competence’.
ICDL PROFESSIONAL is designed to meet the needs of modern professionals in a range of sectors and develops an advanced level of skills for those with technology reliant roles. From the use of business applications to the fundamentals of advanced technologies, these skills allow them to manage different types of workload as well as collaborate with technical teams.
ICDL Digital Citizen is specially developed to cater for those with no experience whatsoever of computers and the Internet. ICDL Digital Citizen helps to remove the fear of using a computer for complete novices by using a simple, non-threatening approach to educating individuals in the basic skills of using a computer, email and the Internet.
ICDL Digital Student is a global digital literacy programme designed to empower school students to learn real-world skills that enable them to think critically and be more productive learners. ICDL Digital Student gives students the skills they need to succeed at school and prepares them for future studies and the workplace
These ICDL modules are particularly beneficial for office professionals and collectively empower learners with a versatile digital skillset necessary for the demands of a modern workplace. They cover fundamental computer usage, communication, productivity tools, and more advanced digital skills for occupational effectiveness.
For those currently working in or hoping to pursue a career in a media and marketing role, ICDL offers modules that enhance digital skills essential for success in this dynamic field. These modules collectively provide media and marketing professionals with the digital competencies needed to navigate the evolving landscape of digital marketing, communicate effectively online, and implement successful campaigns.
For those currently working or hoping to pursue a career in finance and accounting, these ICDL set of modules is designed to enhance digital skills relevant to the demands of the financial sector.
Educators require a range of digital skills to navigate the evolving landscape of education and effectively integrate technology into their teaching practices. ICDL offers modules specifically designed for educators, as well as modules to enhance their digital skills and proficiency in the classroom or lecture theatre. These digital skills empower educators to create dynamic and interactive learning experiences, adapt to changing educational landscapes, and prepare students for the digital demands of the future.
Designers need a diverse set of digital skills to thrive in the modern creative landscape. These digital skills empower designers, including Graphic Design, Web Design, Product Design, Interior Design and Architecture to create visually stunning, interactive, and user-centric designs across various digital platforms and mediums.
Collaborating with ICDL Africa, the National Bank of Rwanda (BNR) and the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) took transformative steps to enhance their workforces’ digital skills. ICDL Compass testing at BNR identified skill gaps, leading to tailored training for 15 staff. Simultaneously, RRA initiated a project to train and certify 500 employees using ICDL standards, featuring a Train-the-Trainer program. Both initiatives underscore a commitment to improved digital proficiency and adaptability, positioning BNR and RRA as leaders in finance and revenue collection in Rwanda.
In a historic partnership, the ICDL Foundation and the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL) marked a significant achievement on March 20, 2019, by signing an MoU to pioneer the development of the first-ever ICDL Professional Legal programme. Tailoring key ICDL modules for the legal profession, this partnership aims to revolutionize legal education, starting with its launch in Singapore and expanding its impact globally.
In a collaborative effort, the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) and the Irish Defence Forces joined forces to enhance their military personnel’s digital capabilities through the integration of the ICDL training and certification. This case study explores the transformative impact of this partnership, highlighting how ICDL has played a key role in elevating technological proficiency among military personnel and fostering a crucial alliance between MOD UK and the Irish Defence Forces.
In a landmark collaboration, the Employers’ Confederation of Thailand (ECOT) and ICDL Thailand joined forces to elevate the digital competencies of employers and employees across the nation. The partnership was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Sukanan Charoen Villa Building on October 9, 2023, symbolizing a crucial stride towards equipping Thai businesses and the workforce with essential digital skills required to thrive in the digital age.
