Overview of E-Cert™
The Certificate in E-Literacy (E-Cert™) programme comprises 15 modules covering critical Internet skills such as browsing, searching, e-mail, connectivity, wireless Internet, m-commerce, e-commerce, security and privacy, netiquette, multimedia, Internet resources and tools. The course is delivered by instructor-led training over 40 hours in a classroom environment.
The programme ensures that citizens acquire the skills necessary for initiatives such as e-government; e-commerce, e-banking, e-learning, revenue on-line and many other services can be successfully embraced by all citizens. Erkki Liikanen, European Commission for Enterprise and the Information Society recently stated that “only digitally literate people can reap all the benefits the information revolution can provide".
The rapid adoption of the programme in many countries is resulting in increased recognition for the programme. The programme is being adopted in a number of international projects aimed at addressing specific areas suffering from the Digital Divide.
Objectives of E-Cert™
- To equip every citizen with the digital literacy skills and knowledge required to live and work in the new information society
- To bridge the digital divide by enabling citizens to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to participate fully in a truly inclusive information society
- To enhance the productivity of employees working in the increasingly digital and knowledge-based economy
- To empower e-citizens to reap the benefits that the information revolution can provide
- To increase consumer confidence by ensuring that all citizens have a broad understanding of the security and privacy issues relating to on-line communication and e-commerce transactions
- To provide a benchmark qualification in digital literacy for all e-citizens.
Benefits of e-Cert™
Every individual that achieves the European Certificate in E-Literacy (E-Cert™) will have demonstrated a fundamental knowledge, awareness and understanding of Internet technologies, and will have achieved an essential level of proficiency in the usability of the key technologies to function effectively as an e-citizen both at work and at home.
The European Certificate in E-Literacy(E-Cert™) is primarily concerned with the people and communities who must be included in the information revolution if we are to become an Information Society in its truest sense. Unless the population at large posses the necessary skills to function effectively in the Information Society, the potential social and economic benefits of the new technologies will be limited and any opportunity which may exist today to gain a competitive advantage will be lost.
Erkki Liikanen, European Commissioner "eEurope: The Way Forward" 2001
"Digital literacy is becoming a basic requirement in a world where the Internet will be present in all aspects of human activities: social, professional and private."
Mary O'Rourke, Minister for Public Enterprise, speaking at the launch of E-CERT , a new European Certificate in e-Literacy, November 2001.
"Every citizen must be put into a position very soon of being able to take advantage of the opportunities offered by digital technologies"
