Al Baha University has recently adopted ICDL as a standard for its digital literacy program for first-year university students.

The move aims to help accelerate the development of the female and male students' digital knowledge and skills, which will dramatically improve their future career prospects and make them active contributors in the socio-economic growth of Saudi Arabia.

More than 4,500 students in the preparatory year are poised to receive the ICDL certification and benefit from the newly implemented ICDL standard. Al Baha University, which is located in Al-Baha city, in the middle of Sarawat Mountains, currently has a total of twelve colleges.

'This partnership with Al Baha University underscores the strong commitment of universities and academic institutions in Saudi Arabia to promote IT literacy as an important tool in the development of a competent, world-class professional workforce,' said Dr Sulaiman Al-Dhalaan, managing director, ICDL Saudi Arabia.

Aside from Al Baha University, the ICDL standard has also been implemented in other leading universities in the Kingdom, including King Saud University (KSU), Taibah University, Princess Noura bint Abdulrahman University, the first university for girls in Saudi Arabia; and University of Tabuk.

ICDL is an integrated digital literacy program recognised worldwide. The program empowers individuals with the essential skills and knowledge of computer and practical use of common desktop applications.

The program is based on a recognised global standard acknowledged through testing and proves that the certificate holder has fundamental skills in IT, using the computer and managing files, word processing, spreadsheet, database, presentation, and information and communication (Internet and e-mail).

ICDL is endorsed by education ministries, universities and government organisations and it is accredited by more than 168 countries and is available in more than 40 languages.-TradeArabia News Service