The times they are a-changing……

In recent weeks, the BCS has issued a number of “ECDL – BCS IT User Updates” to Test Centres, and these describe the changes that are taking place to the ECDL Syllabus on 1st September 2007 (Syllabus 4.5) and again on 1st September 2008 (Syllabus 5).  If you think you may not have seen all of these BCS communications, then click here to go to a page on the BCS web site from where you can download each of them.

1st September 2007 ( Syllabus 4.5) changes – why they are so important.

On the 1st September, there will be some minor changes to the Syllabus for modules 1, 2 and 7.  As ‘minor’ as they may be in terms of volume, these changes are extremely important because, apart from bringing the content of these modules up to date with the latest technology, they ensure that the ECDL Syllabus, as a whole, maps 100% to the new National Occupational Standards (NOS). 

Money Matters

Mapping, as it does, to the NOS, ECDL Syllabus 4.5 is confirmed as a contributing qualification for ITQ, which is of course the NVQ for IT Users. This too could be important from a funding point of view.  Many Local Skills Councils (LSCs) are being increasingly restrictive in their funding policy and insisting that centres offer ITQ. So your Centre’s adoption of Syllabus 4.5 may be the key to you being able to access LSC funding!

Full Level 2 funding can be accessed by offering an ITQ based on ECDL, either by topping up an existing ECDL qualification (with the relevant ITQ mandatory unit) and using it as Accreditation of Prior Achievement (APA) or by using specific ECDL modules as the optional units contributing towards an ITQ.  The BCS is currently offering a free consultation service for ITQ, as they have a truly comprehensive, unique and cost effective package for delivery of ITQ.

If money doesn’t matter…..

Of course, if you have not been receiving LSC funding for ECDL in the past, then all this may not be of much concern to you.  Nevertheless, it still makes sense to ensure that all your ECDL candidates who register for ECDL on or after 1st September, have access to the new Syllabus 4.5 training and tests.  After all, it is only right that they should study the very latest and up to date version.

Free of Charge

By the 1st September, all Activ ECDL courseware customers will have new Syllabus 4.5 training made available to them free of charge. 

Likewise, all Activ customers delivering ECDL tests will have access to the new Syllabus 4.5 tests, so they can then offer candidates either Syllabus 4 or Syllabus 4.5 tests as appropriate.

We have recently sent various e-mail communications to our customers explaining exactly how the new Syllabus 4.5 courseware and testing will be made available.  If you did not receive such a communication from us please let us know as soon as possible.

If in doubt, please get in touch with us

There are a few ActivTest customers who, in order to be able to deliver Syllabus 4.5 tests, still need their ActivTest system upgraded from the old ActivTest Version 4 to the latest Version 6 (don’t confuse these versions with the ECDL Syllabus numbers as they do not relate to each other!).  We have recently sent an e-mail to such customers explaining the process by which they can be upgraded.  If you suspect that you may need to upgrade and if you did not receive the e-mail or if you are not shortly contacted by our Support Desk, then please call them on 0870 3000 815 as soon as possible.

If you are still baffled by the intricacies of the ECDL Syllabus changes, then rest assured that with Activ, you are in safe hands!  However, if you do want to ask questions about this, then call your Activ Account Manager, or telephone Activ HQ on 01234 340880.

Activ Training July 2007