ICDL has been formally mapped to the Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF), providing national recognition of ICDL certifications within Malta’s qualifications system. Originally completed in 2010 and subsequently updated in 2013 to reflect the introduction of New ECDL, the mapping established a clear relationship between ICDL certification and Malta’s nationally recognised learning outcomes framework.
The mapping process represented an important milestone in recognising digital competence as a measurable and valuable learning achievement that can be referenced within a national qualifications framework.
About the Malta Qualifications Framework
The Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF) was established to improve transparency, comparability and recognition of qualifications across all sectors of education and training. The framework classifies qualifications according to learning outcomes, allowing learners, employers and education providers to better understand the knowledge, skills and competences associated with a qualification.
The MQF is referenced to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the Qualifications Framework of the European Higher Education Area (QF-EHEA), helping ensure that qualifications achieved in Malta can be understood and recognised internationally.
Today, responsibility for the framework lies with the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA), the national authority responsible for accreditation, recognition and quality assurance within Malta’s further and higher education system.
Evaluating ICDL against National Standards
When ECDL Malta initiated the referencing process, the qualification was evaluated against established MQF criteria. The assessment considered several important elements, including:
- The structure of the international qualification;
- The ICDL syllabus;
- Learning outcomes;
- Teaching and learning methodologies;
- Assessment and certification processes.
This evaluation ensured that ICDL certifications could be understood within a recognised national framework based on measurable learning outcomes and competency standards.
Supporting Lifelong Learning and Digital Skills Development
The Malta Qualifications Framework was designed to support lifelong learning by recognising learning achieved through a range of pathways, including formal, non-formal and informal education. By mapping ICDL to the MQF, Malta recognised that digital skills development plays an important role in education, employment and social participation.
As a globally recognised digital skills certification programme, ICDL helps learners develop practical competencies in areas such as:
- Computer and online essentials;
- Productivity applications;
- Information management;
- Online collaboration;
- Cybersecurity awareness;
- Digital communication and workplace skills.
These competencies align with the broader objectives of qualifications frameworks that seek to measure what learners know, understand and are able to do in real-world contexts.
Enhancing Transparency and Mobility
One of the principal goals of the Malta Qualifications Framework is to improve transparency and support learner mobility between education systems, sectors and countries. By mapping ICDL to the MQF, learners, employers and institutions gained a clearer understanding of the learning outcomes associated with ICDL certification.
This recognition supports employers seeking reliable indicators of digital competence while helping learners demonstrate skills that are relevant in both educational and workplace settings. It also reinforces ICDL’s position as an internationally recognised certification standard that can be referenced within national and international qualifications frameworks.
Strengthening Digital Competence Through Recognised Qualifications
As governments, employers and educational institutions increasingly prioritise digital skills, qualification frameworks play an important role in validating and recognising competence. The inclusion of ICDL within the Malta Qualifications Framework demonstrates how internationally recognised certification programmes can support national skills strategies while providing learners with trusted and transparent recognition of their achievements.
The mapping of ICDL to the MQF remains an important example of how digital competence can be formally recognised within a national qualifications system and linked to broader European frameworks that support lifelong learning, employability and mobility.
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