José Manuel Barroso, President of European Commission received the nine millionth ECDL skills card at a ceremony highlighting both the success of the ECDL programme and the necessity of keeping investment in digital skills high on the public policy agendas of all member states in order to increase employability and build a competitive European economy.
Accepting the ECDL Skills Card, Mr Barroso stressed that digital literacy skills are essential for Europeans and stated that the Commission is proud to have been at the origin of the "great work of the ECDL programme" and its "amazing" progress in reaching nine million Skills Cards. He noted that "digital literacy is part of basic competences such as reading and writing and that this is the message the Commission is conveying to all European citizens; in this difficult economic situation many workers will need to be re-trained and the digital competences they can gain will help them find new opportunities for a better life".
As part of its economic recovery plan, the European Commission has proposed a €1billion investment to bring broadband to rural areas. However unless this investment is supplemented with IT training, Europe risks an additional widening of the digital divide in areas where digital literacy levels already lag behind the European average according to a 2008 Eurostat report which indicated that in 2007, 49 per cent of citizens in sparsely populated areas never used the internet.
Speaking at the event, Jim Friars, chairman of the ECDL Foundation Board, noted that ECDL is a true European success story, outlining how the original concept was developed with the support of EC funding. By presenting the ECDL Skills Card to Mr Barroso, the ECDL Foundation recognises the Commission's work to empower individuals by creating better employment opportunities and an inclusive information society.
Damien O'Sullivan, chief executive officer of ECDL Foundation noted that with 40 per cent of Europeans still without the basic skills needed to use the internet, much remains to be done. Mr O' Sullivan underlined the commitment of ECDL Foundation to the objectives of the i2010 Strategy as digital literacy is a key enabler for building an inclusive information society and a knowledge-based economy.
In Malta, ECDL Malta is responsible for operating ECDL certification programmes on behalf of the ECDL Foundation. For more information about ECDL programmes, ECDL Malta may be contacted via e-mail on info@ecdl.com.mt or phone number 2398 0132.
Accepting the ECDL Skills Card, Mr Barroso stressed that digital literacy skills are essential for Europeans and stated that the Commission is proud to have been at the origin of the "great work of the ECDL programme" and its "amazing" progress in reaching nine million Skills Cards. He noted that "digital literacy is part of basic competences such as reading and writing and that this is the message the Commission is conveying to all European citizens; in this difficult economic situation many workers will need to be re-trained and the digital competences they can gain will help them find new opportunities for a better life".
As part of its economic recovery plan, the European Commission has proposed a €1billion investment to bring broadband to rural areas. However unless this investment is supplemented with IT training, Europe risks an additional widening of the digital divide in areas where digital literacy levels already lag behind the European average according to a 2008 Eurostat report which indicated that in 2007, 49 per cent of citizens in sparsely populated areas never used the internet.
Speaking at the event, Jim Friars, chairman of the ECDL Foundation Board, noted that ECDL is a true European success story, outlining how the original concept was developed with the support of EC funding. By presenting the ECDL Skills Card to Mr Barroso, the ECDL Foundation recognises the Commission's work to empower individuals by creating better employment opportunities and an inclusive information society.
Damien O'Sullivan, chief executive officer of ECDL Foundation noted that with 40 per cent of Europeans still without the basic skills needed to use the internet, much remains to be done. Mr O' Sullivan underlined the commitment of ECDL Foundation to the objectives of the i2010 Strategy as digital literacy is a key enabler for building an inclusive information society and a knowledge-based economy.
In Malta, ECDL Malta is responsible for operating ECDL certification programmes on behalf of the ECDL Foundation. For more information about ECDL programmes, ECDL Malta may be contacted via e-mail on info@ecdl.com.mt or phone number 2398 0132.