Introduction:

The ICDL is designed for a person to 'drive' a computer with the same ease as they might drive a car. Its aims are to:

	Raise the general level of competency in IT
	Improve productivity at work
	Reduce user support costs
	Enable employers to invest more efficiently in IT
	Ensure that best practice and quality issues are understood and implemented.

The IDCL is not a "training course" but rather a competency standard that is acknowledged through testing.

The ICDL offers:

	Certification that is recognised worldwide as showing competency in fundamental computer skills across most commercial software platforms (Microsoft, Lotus, etc.).
	Supervised testing that guarantees every certificate holder has done the work and passed all the tests.
	Return on Investment for a company that can count on a fundamental level of competency from all its employees.

Benefits of ICDL Certification for Individuals:

	Increase your confidence to participate in the global digital society
	Improve the quality of your life by gaining a better working knowledge of computers
	Increase your value in the workplace by possessing a valuable credential
	Establish a solid range of basic computer skills on which to increase your computer literacy

Benefits of ICDL Certification for Employers:

	Establish a computer competency standard for current and new employees
	Improve employee productivity and increase returns from investments in IT
	Reduce IT support costs
	Identify training needs of employees and measure the efficacy of training programs
	Use ICDL as an effective model for designing fundamental IT education and training in the organisation
	Reduce the inherent risks in recruiting, hiring and promotion decisions
	Help motivate staff, increase their self-esteem and sense of achievement.