European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL)
The University of Essex is an Accredited Test Centre for the European
Computer Driving Licence (ECDL).
What is the ECDL?
The ECDL is an internationally recognised qualification that demonstrates
your competence in a range of IT programs and will help you in your work,
develop your IT skills and enhance your career prospects.
The ECDL has seven modules:
- Module 1: IT security for users
- Module 2: Using the computer and managing files
- Module 3: Word Processing
- Module 4: Spreadsheets
- Module 5: Databases
- Module 6: Presentation
- Module 7: Information and communication
Taster session
Come along to our "What is ECDL?"
taster session, run in conjunction with Learning and Development, to
find out more about the qualification. See if it's right for you and your
CV, or relevant to your staff and their development.
Joining ECDL
Who can take part?
Any member of staff or student registered at Essex can participate in both
the training and testing aspects of ECDL. You will be given a personalised ECDL
account when you are registered. The account is not tied to the University, so
if you move on you will still be able to access your account.
What does it involve?
-
Signing-up
You must sign-up with IT Training before you can take exams
and this involves registering with BCS (the British Computer Society) and
getting the ECDL syllabus. You can also request access to the online study
materials.
- Register: IT Training will register you
with BCS who manages the ECDL in the UK. There is a one-off
registration fee of £30** - there are no other charges for
individual modules or study materials.
To book an appointment: phone us on ext 2582 or e-mail
ittraining (non-Essex users please add @essex.ac.uk). Please
remember to bring identification (eg staff/student card) with
you to the IT Training Office (4SW.5.7).
- Get syllabus: once you register with BCS
you will be sent the syllabus for each of the seven modules via
e-mail. You can then tell us which of the modules you would like
to study.
**Note for staff: You may be eligible for this to count towards your
personal development. We encourage you to ask your department if they will
pay your registration fee, in which case we will need a departmental cost
code.
-
Study materials
You will be sent the syllabus for each of the seven modules via e-mail. You
are encouraged to go through these materials and identify any gaps in your
skills set. If you feel you are comfortable enough you may wish to sit an exam
without further study materials.
We also offer the module materials online through our web-based training
system and you may find that attending some of our IT training courses will
improve your knowledge and skills and help you pass the ECDL modules.
Although our courses are not ECDL specific, they do cover many of the same
tools and techniques.
-
Examinations
An exam will last up to 45 minutes and you can retake an exam should you
fail. All modules must be completed (in any order) over a 3 year period.
We have an excellent pass rate of 97 percent and the web-based training
system and
IT Training Clinic ensures you are
supported throughout the testing process.
-
Your certificate
Upon successful completion of all seven modules a certificate will be
awarded. Certificates usually take around three weeks to arrive and a
member of
IT Training
will notify you when it is ready for collection.
We have purchased a per-module web-based training system from the British
Computer Society. Each of the seven ECDL modules are covered in the training and
you register to study each specific module in turn, as required. As these are
web-based, you can study at home as well as on campus. Each training module is
valid for up to three months.
This training is provided free for those who have registered for ECDL,
subject to the following:
- anyone registering for a module is expected to take the test by the end of
the three month period;
- failure to take the test will incur a charge of £10.
Participants wishing to use this online system should
contact IT Training to receive a login name, password and details of how to
access the course.