Government employees and workers in thousands of companies across the world are studying for the International Computer Driving License (ICDL). They know it will improve their skills in computers and technology and help them in their jobs.
In November 2001, the UK health minister announced that the European Computer Driving License (ECDL) would be a standard for IT skills for all 700,000 employees in the National Health Service (NHS).
The minister, Lord Hunt said, "The money we spend on new technology will be wasted unless all our staff have IT skills."
From porters to senior doctors, all NHS staff will have a professionally recognized, up-to-date qualification and will become more familiar with technology.
Dublin Corporation, Ireland made the ECDL a standard for its employees in 1999. Over 1400 people out of a staff of 6500 people within Dublin Corporation will study the ECDL by summer 2002.
Pfizer Limited, a huge international drug company with 95,000 employees worldwide, has asked its British employees to complete the ECDL. The workers study in Pfizer's learning center. Several hundred employees are already studying for the program.
Estonia, a small country on the Baltic Sea between Germany and Russia, has joined the rest of Europe in developing its computer skills. As part of the government's "IT Action Plan" over 10,000 senior staff in the public sector had to study for the ECDL in the year 2002.
In Hungary, since January 2000, no-one can join the civil service unless they have an ECDL certificate!
IBM employees in Scotland will have the chance to train for the ECDL. The company will help by giving free training, and overtime or reduced hours to employees.
The Italian Ministry of Education is introducing the ECDL into all public high schools. Not all students will have to do it, but it is strongly recommended by Ministry. Several hundred schools across Italy are already involved.