Seeing the need for the promotion and assessment of Digital Literacy in New Zealand, NZCS brought the internationally renown ICDL and e-Citizen end-user computing certifications to New Zealand.

ICDL, or International Computer Drivers Licence, is an internationally accepted end-user computer assessment and qualification available for people of all ages.

ICDL is available in 148 countries around the world and has been completed by more than 7 million candidates - it is truly the internationally recognised computer skills assessment.

The standard programme contains 7 modules:

• Module 1 - Concepts of Information Technology (IT)
• 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

NZCS brought ICDL to New Zealand to address the significant gap in the promotion, assessment and tackling of Digital Literacy issues, and the growing requirement that New Zealanders have a thorough demonstrable understanding of end-user computer and application use. ICDL is NZQA-approved.

Note that ICDL is an end user qualification as opposed to a professional certification - it is designed to teach and assess computer and application use amongst the general public, not as a specialist certification for ICT professionals.

NZCS now also offers ICDL-Advanced, a more advanced version of the ICDL programme. See www.icdl.co.nz for more info.

Computers and the Internet are now a part of daily life and we all need to be able to use them to perform simple everyday tasks.

Not only is the Internet a valuable tool for communicating and finding information, but more and more organisations and government departments are using the Internet to provide information and services. Those without Internet skills are in danger of losing out. While you may be familiar with the Internet, there are many people who are not.

e-Citizen is an entry-level course and assessment, teaching people how to use the Internet in our daily lives. It's ideally suited to those with limited or no exposure to the Net.

ICDL and eCitizen are managed in New Zealand for NZCS by Computing NZ Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary. You can find out more about ICDL in New Zealand at www.icdl.co.nz or by calling 0800 NZ ICDL (0800 694 235).

Through Computing NZ Ltd, NZCS also offers e-Type, an internationally-recognised touch typing course and assessment.