1. Programme Development:
Overview
Frank Mockler, Head of Programme Standards, ECDL Foundation
Milano, 27/10/2016

2. ECDL Foundation
Not-for-profit global governing body of world’s leading computer skills certification programme – ECDL
A few words on who we are – not-for-profit, it’s about spreading digital skills. Origins in an EC-funded project – so successful that a self-sustaining organisation was established. Members of the organisation are the computer societies of Europe – e.g. AICA.
And we have a clear mission – this structures our activities.
Our mission – “To enable proficient use of ICT that empowers individuals, organisations, and society, through the development, promotion, and delivery of quality certification programmes throughout the world.”

3. Global reach…
We’ve grown in our (almost 20 years!). Offices in Dublin, Brussels, Kigali, Singapore, and Panama. Partnerships in most of the countries of the world. Working in a multi-lingual environment to support large scale activities.

4. Programme Development objective
> Of course, maintain what we have…
> But also build for the future
> From our mission:
“Proficient use of ICT”
“Individual, organisations, and societies”
“Quality-focused programmes”
The 20 years have been hugely successful, and we need to protect that – one of Programme Development’s objectives. But we should be forward facing – the main consideration should be building for the future. What’s our focus?

5. ? Our strategic approach to programmes
> No surprise that this has changed over time!
A single 7-module certificate
Additional certification modules
ICDL Profile, modular flexibility ?
These priorities need to drive our strategic direction – which has to be dynamic. Two main external factors – shifting technology landscape and customer awareness….
> And the two underlining drivers of change?
Technology
Customer awareness

6. Technology Landscape
This has evolved over time – not the same space than in 1997! MS is all about “cloud and mobile” under CEO Satya Nadella – nothing about the office suite! Apple converges it’s desktop and cloud platforms; Google Chrome – is a browser or an OS? Is Android a mobile OS?

7. > A “core” of standards – syllabi, quality assurance
Programmes By Sector
ECDL WORKFORCE
ICDL EDUCATION
Common Standards
“Generic”
Modules
QAS
But let’s not get distracted by technology – at our heart, we are not a technology company, we are “what do we people and organisations need to do things better or do new things” company. It’s the use of technology that’s important. And use is driven by users – and users are not all the same. We need to acknowledge this in our programme development. So how are we doing that? At the heart of what we do is – and will still remain – a set of common standards. These standards take a variety of forms – they might be the learning objectives in some of our syllabi, which remain consistent and applicable to individuals and originations in all areas; the might be the standardised approach to operations, for example through testing and certification approaches; they might be the QA standards that underpin these – and they are also the core values of ECDL – social responsibility, a quality focus, and an independence from technology vendors. However, our experience – informed by the direct activities of our operators globally – suggests that we really don’t have one audience for our product. It’s quite clear, for example, that we have many activities and projects in the education sector and many in the public and private organisations – and these audience are different. So if we assume that are different Workforce and Education requirements, we can see that there space for solutions that use these central “standards” but logically only appeal to one sector. When I talk about our current activities in a minute, you’ll see how this is directly influencing or programme development decision-making.
> A “core” of standards – syllabi, quality assurance
> Increased consideration of sectoral requirements

8. Where our programmes come from?
Before I talk about the “what” or programme development, it’s worth considering the “how”…

9. > Utilise cutting edge technologies!
How we develop
> Utilise cutting edge technologies!
Us at work…. We do use more powerful tools though! For example, the ITR database to gather and collate feedback on our existing modules and tests.

10. How we develop
> Collation and analysis of stakeholder (that’s you!) feedback
> Top-down definition of domain
“What should a person know or be able to do to be described as competent in this area?”
> Structuring of syllabus
> Development of test specification
> 10 members, with representatives from:

11. Maintenance Key activities:
> Syllabus 6.0 – 4 key modules, Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Presentations, and Using Databases (500,000 tests in Q2!). Launch in 2017
> Advanced 3.0 – Advanced Word Processing, Advanced Spreadsheets, Advanced Presentations, Advanced Databases. Launch in 2017
Moving on to the “what” – maintenance is important.

12. > Response to educational policy priorities
New Developments
Digital Marketing:
> Global launch today!
> A solution for
ECDL Computing:
> Piloting in 2017
> Response to educational policy priorities
> Demonstrate ECDL to be a dynamic flexible solution – not just about “Word”!
ECDL WORKFORCE
ICDL EDUCATION
New developments with a specific sectoral flavour…

13. In Summary…
We established a successful model
>…but we need to keep changing
We have a process for adapting and developing
>…but we have to know what people need
Thanks for your current and future efforts
> …the success of ECDL will be based on your drive and commitment

14. Thanks for your time…