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Global Digital Literacy Council meets to discuss International ICT standards

The bi-annual summit of the Global Digital Literacy Council took place in Stratford-Upon-Avon to address the issues which influence and drive the development of ICT literacy standards. Delegates represented various countries in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa, Japan and Asia Pacific.

"I am delighted with the honour of hosting the global digital literacy summit in the birthplace of English literature," said Clive Thomas, Mayor of Stratford-upon-Avon, who was present during opening ceremonies to welcome Summit delegates.

Participants discussed the educational, economic and social issues impacting the development and adoption of digital literacy standards worldwide. The purpose of the Global Digital Literacy Summit was to create a forum for international stakeholders to collaborate, shape and define an emerging, vendor-independent, global standard for Internet and computer literacy. "Japan has always had a deep interest in the development of digital literacy standards", says Katsuya Debari, President of Odyssey Communications in Tokyo and founder of the IT Education Initiative in Japan. "As such, it is important for us to participate in the process of arriving at a global standard and extending the results of our own pioneering efforts to other digital economies."

The council has brought together key stakeholders and industry representatives in the fields of education, skills development, employment and certification, all focused on addressing the growing "digital divide". As the divide separating basic individual skills and ICT skill requirements in society widens, digital literacy initiatives are racing to the forefront of academic, political and corporate agendas. "As one of United Kingdom's leading awarding bodies, it is important for us to keep abreast of international developments on digital literacy," says Simon Banks, Manager of Vocationally-Related Qualification for OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations). "In order to develop standards of digital literacy, it is necessary to ensure that key stakeholders are included in the process".

During the summit, council members finalised their eight month review of input from experts from around the world, examined the current Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³) standards and agreed upon the comprehensive set of skills and knowledge necessary for basic information and communications technology competence. Among the outcomes is a validated, consistent, robust and internationally recognised testing program for 2004/2005. "The international reach of the IC³ certification, more than any other baseline certification, provides the solid foundation for worldwide cooperation in establishing a global standard," says Ms. Lim Choon Heong, General Manager of the National Infocomm Competency Centre in Singapore. "In addition, the rigorous process through which the certification continues to be developed ensures that the skills addressed by the certification standards are relevant and current".

The digital literacy council will continue to meet bi-annually as a function of the two-year rolling development cycle to discuss technical and social changes affecting digital literacy standards in education and the workforce. "An internationally recognised digital literacy standard delivers positive benefits for a range of groups, from children in education, to underserved populations, to employees and corporations, workforces and even nations seeking skills to increase their economic opportunities. The outcome is a pathway for all citizens to gain a qualification that opens up not just opportunity, but possibly survival in the Information Age," says David Saedi, president of Certiport.

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