ICDL GCC Foundation has praised the effort of Sultan Qaboos University for promoting the spread of digital literacy in Oman.

ICDL is the governing body and certification authority of the International Computer Driving License (ICDL) programme in the Gulf region.

The varsity was praised on the occasion of more than 800 candidates completing their ICDL certification.

The Sultan Qaboos University's Centre for Community Service and Continuing Education had endorsed the ICDL standard in 2005 and launched the programme as part of its offering to enhance the community's computer competency.

Since the commencement of the program, the Centre has successfully trained and tested candidates from various organizations in Oman's public and private sectors as well as individuals.

'The ICDL programme at the Sultan Qaboos University's Centre for Community Service and Continuing Education has been very well received by employers in the public and private sectors. We are delighted to have crossed the 800 candidate mark in such a short period, and we are expecting this number to touch 1500 by the end of the year,' said director, Centre for Community Service and Continuing Education Director at Sultan Qaboos University, Rushed H. AL-Kiyumi.

The first batch of students to participate in the ICDL programme included 176 candidates, and the number has continued to increase, reaching 238 candidates in the fourth batch. In total, the centre has now trained and tested more than 800 candidates from various organisations in public and private sectors throughout Oman.

Other key concepts include the use of lifestyle technology such as digital cameras, Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) and third generation mobile devices. The ICDL certification is endorsed by governments and academic institutions worldwide as the global benchmark for computer competency.Trade Arabia News Service