ICDL GCC Foundation had accredited the Centre to teach basic computer skills using the ICDL curriculum to students, faculty, staff and Omani citizens in 2005 in support of the 'Digital Oman' initiative. The Centre has over the years delivered the ICDL program to around 3,000 members of the defense, government and education fields as well as individuals from various sectors of society. The partnership between ICDL GCC Foundation and Sultan Qaboos University complements the National IT Training and Awareness initiative which seeks to enhance Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills and awareness within government and the community.

During the awarding ceremony, Jamil Ezzo, Director General, ICDL GCC Foundation, said: "We commend Sultan Qaboos University's Centre for Community Service and Continuing Education for actively promoting ICDL projects for the past four years. It has been highly successful in empowering society through the delivery of essential skills needed in the new knowledge society. We thank the Centre for its full support and are pleased to present it with this plaque as a symbol of our appreciation."

Oman's seventh Five Year Development Plan (2006-2010) identifies ICT as a priority growth sector. The Ministry of Education mandates that Information Technology be taught in schools as a separate subject from Grade 1 to Grade 10 under a new Basic Education system. The ICDL course is taught in the 11^th Grade to transfer basic IT skills to students before they enter their chosen collegiate study program. Around 370 accredited school-based training centres with ICDL-certified teachers have been established across Oman, with over 100,000 students already trained and tested at about 18 ICDL-accredited testing centres.

The ICDL GCC Foundation is the regional arm of the European Computer Driving License Foundation (ECDL Foundation), the not-for-profit global governing body of the ECDL and ICDL member countries dedicated to helping raise the IT proficiency of societies all over the world. The Foundation currently oversees a regional network of more than 700 ICDL-accredited centers. It ranks among the top three contributors to the global ICDL certification program.

Global Arab Network