Information about ICDL is divided into four section:
a) The history of the ICDL
b) The objectives of the ICDL
c) The benefits of the ICDL to an individual and to employers
d) The Role of the ECDL Foundation and the role of ICDL GCC

What is ICDL?
ICDL or the International Computer Driver License is an internationally acceptable certificate that testifies to its holder’s basic hands-on experience on computers and office applications. The certificate is awarded to a person who passes standard test on both Information Technology (IT) theory and computer applications. It guarantees to employers that its holder is computer literate and enjoys basic IT knowledge and computer training that will enable him/her to perform duties expected of an IT literate person. For the holder, it is a pedagogical passport that can be used across countries that testify to its validity as a proof for job qualifications.

History
Started by the Fins as the Finish Computer Driver License (FCDL) in 1994 with about 10,000 participants of whom 5,000 were seeking employment. In an effort to raise IT skills though out Europe, the Council for European Professionals Informatics Societies (CEPIS) adopted the FCDL concept. After modification and testing, the Council renamed it and announced it as the European Computer Driver License (ECDL) in 1996. In 2002 the ECDL Foundation launched in the United Kingdom the Certified Trainer Professional (CTP) program to certify best practice by trainers. Since then the ECDL took the global name of International Computer Driver License (ICDL) and expanded its CTP program to include Ireland, Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Gulf Region, Saudi Arabia and Finland.

Objectives
The objective of ICDL is to:
• Educate people on benefits of, and train them in, the use of computers
• Improve IT knowledge and use of computers
• Train people on how to use computers effectively
• Improve work and optimize investments
• Provide IT jobs to people regardless of age and geographical location

Benefits
The benefits of ICDL are as follows:
• Provides computer hands on experience for everyone
• Measures skills against a standard benchmark
• Offers good example of effective IT training
• Uses master purveyors of IT knowledge for training
• Prompts and encourages public to join IT literate society.
• Provides career for anyone anywhere any-age.

Role
The role of the ICDL Foundation is to:
• Provide curricula and control testing
• Guarantee quality
• Liaise with service providers
• Promote and market ICDL

The following are important links
A word from trainer
First workshop group April 2009
Second workshop group June 2009
CTP Course Website