ECDL Foundation

The Computer Driving Licence (CDL) was initiated in Finland in 1991. In 1995, the CDL was identified and piloted by the Council of European Professional Informatics Societies (CEPIS, www.cepis.org) task force of the European Commission as a potentially suitable vehicle to help to raise IT skills levels in industry throughout Europe. As a result, the European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) was launched in August 1996.

In January 1997, the ECDL Foundation (ECDL-F, www.ecdl.org) was set up in Dublin, Ireland to ensure that the implementation of the ICDL was at an equal standard throughout Europe, and subsequently throughout the whole world.

Following the sweeping success of the ICDL certifications in Europe, computer societies and development organisations in Africa and South America began piloting the ICDL.

Operations in North America and Asia quickly followed, and ICDL is now the only truly global standard in the field, with over 9 million candidates registered by end of 2008.

ICDL China was officially appointed by the ECDL Foundation in March 2006 to implement the ICDL concept and programme in the mainland China. As early as in December 2003, the Electronics Education and Examination Centre of the Ministry of Information Industry of PRC (CEIAEC, www.ceiaec.org) officially endorsed and recognised the ICDL certification and became the governmental promotion and supervision organisation to foster the ICDL programme in the mainland China.

 ICDL China is now looking to the future by seeking strategic partnerships from all dimensions to bring about mutual benefit. Our aim is to help all people in China to gain the skills and recognition to participate fully in the digital society through localisation and innovation.