Many jobs now entail the use of technology. This requirement continues to grow, even in sectors considered traditional or non-technical. Online tools and mobile apps today perform a huge range of functions which were once paper-based.
The workplace is digital, and in today’s competitive environment, employers highly value digital skills. Having the certified ability to use devices and tools confidently and productively is an effective way for workers to set themselves apart.
Designed to build the critical digital skills of the modern workplace, ICDL Workforce is a tiered programme that will help employees with effective use of technology.
It starts with the Essential Skills modules that are important for many other ICDL programmes. The Office Applications modules develop skills that are commonly used in working life. Complementing these skills are the Good Practice modules, which ensure safe, legal and productive use of technology in the workplace.
The modules in ICDL Workforce are:
Essential Skills
Office Applications
Good Practice
“… in the near future, 90% of jobs — in careers such as engineering, accountancy, nursing, medicine, art, architecture, and many more — will require some degree of digital skills.”
— Andrus Ansip, European Commission Vice President for Digital Single Market, ‘Digital skills, jobs and the need to get more Europeans online’
Boosting workplace productivity
Digital skills are proven to boost productivity. Workers lose approximately 2.5 hours of the working week dealing with ICT problems. Research in Singapore shows that workers could save at least 17% of this lost time by following structured training and certification with ICDL.
With better understanding of how to use software and online tools comes increased confidence. People who have achieved an ICDL certification report that they are more autonomous because they don’t need to seek help to resolve simple issues. This makes them more effective employees.
A competitive workforce
Empowering people with important digital skills makes them more employable because employers know that skilled workers are more productive. An internationally recognised certification is the ideal way to demonstrate the acquisition of these essential and transferable skills.
Our research shows that people tend to overestimate their abilities. The Perception & Reality report gives examples of digital skills gaps in the five countries studied (Europe and Asia) and shows that holders of a computer skills certificate (ICDL) did significantly better than average.
Did you know?
ICDL is mapped to the DigComp framework (European Union), the National Register of Professional Qualification (France), the National Qualifications Framework (England), and the Workforce Skills Qualification Framework (Singapore).
France
ATFormation trains the teams of Fac-similé Grand Sud (CANON group)
Homogenising the skill levels across the group’s agencies to allow all teams to operate with the same efficiency, on the same processes, wherever they are.
Rwanda
University students complete ICDL certification as part of their degree
In 2019, 1,207 candidates from the University of Tourism, Technology and Business Studies (UTB) received their ICDL certificates.
China
ICDL is part of the Ministry of Education’s new vocational education reform policy
The ‘1+X’ policy encourages vocational students to graduate with one or more occupational skills-based certifications in addition to their diploma.
| Assessment bookings open: | 12 September 2022 | Start booking assessments from this date. |
| Assignment brief release date: | 19 September 2022 | Assignment briefs will be available on the portal from this date. |
| Registration deadline: | 30 September 2022 | New learners wishing to take November assessments must be registered with ABE by this date. |
| Booking deadline: | 7 October 2022 | Bookings and payment for all November assessments must be received by this date. |
| Timed OBE release date: | 24 October 2022 | Timed OBE question papers will be available on the portal from this date. |
| Learners' submission deadline: | 14 November 2022 | All assessments must be submitted to your centre by this date. |
| Centres' submission deadline: | 21 November 2022 | Your centre must submit all assessments to ABE by this date. |
| Results: | 28 February 2023 |
May 2023 Assessments:
| Assessment bookings open: | To be advised | Start booking assessments from this date. |
| Assignment brief release date: | To be advised | Assignment briefs will be available on the portal from this date. |
| Registration deadline: | To be advised | New learners wishing to take November assessments must be registered with ABE by this date. |
| Booking deadline: | To be advised | Bookings and payment for all November assessments must be received by this date. |
| Timed OBE release date: | To be advised | Timed OBE question papers will be available on the portal from this date. |
| Learners' submission deadline: | To be advised | All assessments must be submitted to your centre by this date. |
| Centres' submission deadline: | To be advised | Your centre must submit all assessments to ABE by this date. |
| Results: | To be advised |
There is no fee to register with EDUWEB but there is a fee to register with ABE. Their fees are:
| Joining at Level | Registration Fee (£) | Exemption
Fee per subject (£) |
Examination / Assignment Fee per subject (£) |
| 4 | 45 | 55 | 50 |
| 5 | 60 | 70 | 65 |
| 6 | 75 | 80 | 75 |
*Note: The registration fee is paid only once when you first register with ABE and includes the first year's annual subscription.
| Annual Subscription Fee (£) | |
| Students and associate members | 40 |
| Full member | 60 |
| Fellow member | 75 |
Annual subscriptions are due each year in the April or October 12 months after your initial registration. (The annual subscription fee also reactivates a lapsed account.)
