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practice ECDL Hellas-HEPIS

ECDL Hellas-HEPIS

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Web address of the case:

http://www.microsoft.com/unlimitedpotential/d...

Country of the case:

Greece

City/region:

Athens, Polihni, Tripoli, Xanthi, Chania, Kozani, Igoumenitsa, Chios

Posting Date:

12 August 2010

Last Edited Date:

24 August 2010

Author:

Manolis Labovas (HEPIS)
tags

inclusion | employment | IT Certification

ECDL Hellas-HEPIS LogoHEPIS Greece's picture

Type of initiative

  • Project or service-imgProject or service

Case Abstract

The Microsoft Unlimited Potential project is a global initiative focused on providing technology skills for underserved individuals and which aims to bridge the digital divide. The project can be defined as the creation and operation of ten (currently 8) Unlimited Potential Centres (UPCs) within a two year course as managed by HEPIS. HEPIS (Hellenic Professionals Informatics Society) is a non-profit organisation in Greece that aims to promote the cultivation of the professional and scientific interests of their mostly ICT professional members. It also strives to represent and promote the interests of professionals and scientists working in the field of ICT in Greece. HEPIS participates in initiatives that protect human rights, social care and welfare, education and gender equality, environmental protection and ensuring sustainable development with a focus on ICT.

Through this case study approx. 360 individuals selected from vulnerable groups like immigrants, long-term unemployed individuals and divorced women as single parents, will be trained and certified, according to the internationally-recognised ECDL standard. The main objective of the project is to give an IT qualification to these individuals and to increase their chances of obtaining a job or to improve their career.

Description of the case

Domain
eInclusion
Topic
(public) e-services for disadvantaged people | Digital literacy and competences | eAccessibility | ICT and community development
Sector
Education, Science and Research | Employment | Local/Regional Community Development
Start date - End date
July 2008 (Ongoing)
Date operational
July 2008
Target Users
Disadvantaged/deprived communities | Older people (60+) | People with disability | People with health and long-term care problems | People with no or poor digital literacy | Unemployed people
Target Users Description

People with disabilities, immigrants, and unemployed people have faced challenges in acquiring technology skills to compete in the workforce and enjoy the benefits of computers and the Internet.

All groups have the same needs and rights.

NGO's HEPIS and ECDL Hellas have joined up with Microsoft and the community to put in place an e-Skills initiative in collaboration with local authorities and municipalities.

People from vulnerable groups have the chance to certify their computer skills and knowledge with a view to obtaining a new job, or to improve their career. The main goal of Microsoft Unlimited Potential is to bridge the digital divide. So everyone has the chance to learn basic computer skills.

Unemployed people, the homeless, people with disabilities and immigrants want or need to be employed. With the ECDL certificate they have the potential to get a job with a higher salary, in a better environment and gain the chance to develop their position.

Scope
National
Status
Implementation
Language(s)
Greek

Policy Context and Legal Framework

As a non-governmental organisation, HEPIS participates in initiatives and supports every effort which aims to implement action plans for the protection of human rights, community welfare, education, sexual equality, and dealing with xenophobia and racism with a particular emphasis on Informatics, Communications and New Technologies.

As a non-profit organization, HEPIS seeks to achieve the aforementioned aims in co-operation, first and foremost, with non-governmental Organizations, citizens' initiatives, organisations seeking to support disadvantaged population groups, and local communities, with equal access to men and women.

This initiative corresponds to one of the basic principles of the Digital Agenda, specifically the pan-European objective to enhance digital literacy, skills and inclusion. Internet and computer skills have become an integral part of daily life for many European citizens. European citizens can manage their daily tasks easier through the Internet. They can pay taxes, apply for a job, book tickets, communicate with their colleagues, friends etc.

According to statistics, 150 million Europeans have never used the internet. This group is largely made up of people aged 65 to 74 years old, people on low incomes, the unemployed and the less educated. Through our project we made efforts to decrease this ratio and to ensure that vulnerable groups had the chance to learn basic computer skills for free.

Finally this project is related to the Greek Digital Strategy and specifically on the issues described below:

Employment and Growth: promotion and support of projects for the creation of a favourable digital environment for economic activity; it also encompasses skills and employment upgrading projects for the Information Society. 

Education and Culture: includes both equipment and networking financing projects in all levels of education and projects regarding both the introduction and uptake of new technologies and in education as well as within the promotion of Greek culture.

Project Size and Implementation

Type of initiative
Participation
Overall Implementation approach
Partnerships between administration and/or private sector and/or non-profit sector
Technology choice
Standards-based technology
Funding source
Public funding local | Private sector
Project size
Implementation: €49-299,000
Yearly cost:
€1-49,000

Implementation and Management Approach

The following is an example of the programme of a Certified Test Centre that already exists and the local citizens are aware of this programme in their regions: The attendees of the UP programme are selected according to their ID, green card and documents that prove that they are unemployed. Through this project we give more emphasis to unemployed women with a view to solve the problem of the underrepresentation of women in IT-related sectors. Additionally, more opportunities should be given to the unemployed that are married and/or parents at the same time. This group of people has a bigger need to participate in the offered classes.

All candidates' applications are checked and inspected by the project manager. The project manager approves the applications that meet the requirements and then the communication department announces the results of the applications to the local authority. After this a trainer is found with previous experience in educating vulnerable groups.

Additionally we send training materials (book, pen, notepad, skills card).

The programme's duration is 56 hours.

When a brand-new Centre is set-up it must certify with ECDL standards. The local authority should send a press release to publicise the new programme. Also they have to put up posters and make announcements about the programme in order to inform the public about the actions of Unlimited Potential. (HEPIS has the experience to manage this project in collaboration with any group, union or association.)

Microsoft Hellas - assignee for the Microsoft UP - is responsible for supplying the required software, signage, funding of HEPIS project administration requirements, training costs and other relevant expenses. HEPIS handles all aspects of the project as per Microsoft's directive of the project, is responsible for the co-ordination and administration of the projects' funds, finding of suppliers, and the overseeing of all stakeholders.

ECDL Hellas will provide certification on-site for candidates (this includes the examination invigilation, exams, marking, certificate issuing, and confirmation of attendance letter), and also will train the UPC personnel.

The local Authority offers on-site and day-to-day handling, paying utility bills (incl. internet, electricity, water), also pays UPC personnel, and is involved with the allocation of candidates as per Microsoft's directive.

Technology solution

A Certified Test Centre must meet the following requirements:

For efficiency

1.    Two pieces of PC equipment at the candidate centre must be switched on at the time of the visit.

2.    The various software solutions that will be used for training and testing for the ECDL certificate must be loaded onto the two machines.

3.    If a server is available at the Centre, it must be already switched on and running.

4.    Access to the Internet must be available.

Authentic Software

1.    In an effort to fight software piracy ECDL HELLAS requires that all Approved Test Centre purchase and maintain valid software licenses.

2.    Availability of authentic software for each of the 6 practical modules of the ECDL Core Syllabus.

3.    Availability of authentic software for each of the other practical tests offered by the Test Centre 

4.    Copies of the software licenses must be submitted to the ECDL Auditor.

5.    In our case Microsoft is the donator of authentic software. For every Unlimited Potential Centre they provide software licenses.

Personal Computer

1.    A minimum of 8 personal computers with suitable configuration capable to run the software for the practical tests modules efficiently. 

2.    One spare PC to be available in case of technical problem during the test.
Networking

1.    All PCs to be connected to a Local Area Network.

2.    All PCs to have access to the Internet via a suitable fast line

Other Hardware

1.    A printer, within the testing room, to be connected to the Network.

2.    A video projector connected to the trainer's PC is also highly recommended to enhance the quality of training.

Impact, innovation and results

Impact

Local Authority

  • Connection with a very important European initiative
  • The local authority contributes to setting up a social project which gives the opportunity to unemployed citizens with low resources to learn and certify their computer skills.


HEPIS
•    HEPIS' mission is to promote the development of ICT Professionals through digital literacy, skills, education and research, and professionalism. So with this programme it succeeds in doing that.

  • HEPIS' vision is to be recognized as the organisation most preferred by IT leaders that delivers vital knowledge that creates business values and enables personal development. Unlimited Potential is the key to this success.


ECDL
•    One of the strategic objective for ECDL HELLAS is the access to knowledge for every person. As a main partner of this initiative ECDL HELLAS has the potential to bridge the digital divide.


Microsoft
•    With Microsoft Unlimited Potential, Microsoft is committed to helping all people benefit from information and communications technology (ICT) that is accessible, affordable, and relevant to their needs. By partnering with governments, partners, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), educators and academics, they are taking an innovative approach to enabling new avenues of social and economic empowerment for people and communities around world.

Although the programme is ongoing we can estimate from the lessons that candidates' satisfaction is 100%.

More than 200 people have completed and been certified with ECDL CORE and the other 150 candidates have been certified with one or more lessons including ECDL CORE.

Track record of sharing

Although the Microsoft Unlimited Potential programme is global, HEPIS is the only operator that combines both education and ECDL Foundation certification. All candidates have the opportunity to learn and have their skills with ECDL CORE certified in the main certification programme of the ECDL Foundation, in contrast with other operators which cannot provide the relevant services. There is no ratio or other material to describe candidates' huge satisfaction for HEPIS' services. Although the implementation of Microsoft Unlimited Potential has definitely produced such a great success you have to combine all the elements to ensure maximum benefits for everyone.

The contribution of local authorities to the implementation of this project is very important. The UP Centre staff give analytical reports of the candidates' progress. An extra asset is that the local authority pays the UP Centre staff and the utility bills (public sector).

Lessons learnt

Importance of IT certification

There is high satisfaction from all participants in the project which shows that IT certification not only demonstrates competency but builds confidence for all individuals enabling marginalised people to achieve further progress in their lives and careers.

Education and training is the principal way to overcome the shortage of e-skills.

Employers and governments need to recognise that education and training offer the long-term solution to the ebusiness and ICT skills gap and mismatch.

Bottom line: Bridge the digital divide

Improved dialogue between government, education and private sectors in order to reduce the digital divide.  The basic principles of this initiative could be adopted by the government in order to promote and provide basic computer skills for free to a bigger sample of disadvantaged people. Attention must be paid in budgeting, administrative and knowledge. HEPIS representatives are open to dialogues in order to provide their knowledge and experience.

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