Project Funding 2001

INVESTIGATING THE FEASIBILITY OF AN ECDL TEST CENTRE FOR HEIs IN LONDON

A project proposal submitted by HEIs in London

PART A.  PROJECT DETAILS

1. Background

The European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) is the European-wide qualification which enables people to demonstrate their competence in computer skills.  Its key benefits for the employer are:

• establishes a tangible IT benchmark for new employees;
• helps to ensure consistent levels of IT ability throughout an organisation;
• provides evidence to clients of an organisation's ability to deliver effectively;
• helps to reduce IT support costs;
• is a highly effective and innovative model for education and training;
• helps to motivate staff and complements an organisation's investment in people;
• improves the productivity of staff using PCs.

The ECDL is designed specifically for those who wish to gain a basic qualification in computing to help them with their current job, develop their IT skills and enhance their career prospects.

The ECDL is based on a single agreed European Syllabus.  By having one Syllabus, the intention is to achieve a common standard and synchronise the different examinations.  The seven modules comprising the syllabus are:

Module 1: Basic concepts of Information Technology
Module 2: Using the Computer and Managing Files
Module 3: Word Processing
Module 4: Spreadsheets
Module 5: Database
Module 6: Presentation
Module 7: Information and Communication

2. Aim

This project seeks to encourage a collaborative approach amongst HEIs in London to set up a learning and testing centre for all categories of staff who wish to gain the ECDL qualification.

The proposed project will address issues of how on-line learning and testing could be used to allow access for staff across a wide geographic area and a wide variety of working hours.

The proposed project has considerable potential for improving workforce skills in London.

3. Objectives

• Collect data, from those HEIs who wish to participate, on the likely take-up of the qualification amongst staff;
• Explore availability and suitability of on-line learning materials;
• Explore availability and suitability of on-line testing;
• Explore possibility of using Individual Learning Accounts to fund part of the learning;
• Compile and publish recommendations for a pilot operational service to be in place by September 2001;
• Disseminate the findings to the HEI sector nationally;
• Evaluate the project and report progress to HESDA's annual conference in November 2002.

4. Project management

Project will be managed by a paid consultant.  The consultant will report to a project steering group, chaired by Susan Small.  The project steering group will meet regularly from April 2001 to November 2002 and include representatives from:

• HESDA - London Coordinator
• London HEIs, including
• Imperial College
• Institute of Education
• King's College
• London School of Economics and Political Science
• Middlesex University
• Richmond the American University in London

The project steering group will have the following terms of reference:

• provide access to employers and promote the project within the London area;
• provide advice and guidance on how the aims and objectives of the project might best be achieved;
• advise the project manager on their approach to each phase of the project;
• receive and consider project reports prepared by the project manager and monitor progress against project milestones;
• disseminate the project outcomes within their respective areas.

5. Monitoring

Progress against the project milestones (outputs and target dates) will be recorded in the papers of the project steering group meetings.  The project steering group will receive quarterly reports, and they will monitor progress against the project milestones.

6. Evaluation

The project will be evaluated by HESDA staff, who will report to the HESDA National Conference in November 2002.  The evaluation strategy will consider:

• the achievement of the project objectives and outcomes
• the sustainability of and employer participation in continuing to offer staff access to learning and testing materials for the ECDL.

7. Project costs

The cost table identifies more than one-half of project costs (£12,637.50) to be met by sponsors.  These costs will be covered in the following way:

• rent and rates - contribution of extant office premises for project manager and venue for meetings
• Dissemination of report - via email and web
• Steering group members' time - contribution in kind to attend meetings.

SAS
06 August 2003