ICDL - PBB

United Nations Secretariat launches the ICDL programme in New York

by John Kamea, UNITED NATIONS Secretariat New York

After successful pilot programmes in May and August 2008, the Office of Human Resources Management in the United Nations Secretariat launched the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) Start Certification programme at its New York Headquarters.

The Start Certification demonstrates that staff are fully competent in the use of a personal computer, word processing, spreadsheets, and information and communication applications. The programme covers four ICDL modules: Using a Computer and Managing Files, Word Processing, Spreadsheets, and

Information and Communication.

To enter the programme, staff need to first complete the required pre-requisite instructor-led courses in the IT Learning Programmes learning centre in New York. During the five half-day Start Certification programme, participants complete an online diagnostic assessment which measures each individual's competency in each

of the module's key areas. Next, participants receive instructor-led training in each module based on the results of the assessment. Following this, they sit the certification tests for each module. Once candidates pass all module certification tests, they receive the ICDL Start Certification.

The ICDL is one of the first learning programmes in the United Nations Secretariat that leads to an internationally recognised certification. Since 2005, the Start Certification Programme has been available to staff at the United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG). It has also been available to staff at the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). In New York, there are plans to offer the Full and Advanced Certification programmes by May 2009. In addition plans are underway to roll-out the programme to other locations starting with the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia during the second quarter of 2009.