ICDL and PHD Chamber launch Industry Standard for Digital Marketing Certification

- In the first phase, ICDL Digital Marketing Module will be imparted to candidates at 10 leading institutions in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore with plans to expand into other metros by the turn of the year

- Globally Standardizes Digital Marketing skillset, enabling prospective employees & employers to have a common benchmark

Tuesday, 8th November 2016. New Delhi: International Computer Driving License (ICDL) Foundation, world's leading computer skills certification, in association with PHD Chamber, today at a seminar, announced the launch of its Digital Marketing module, certifying essential digital marketing skills in India. The seminar, India's Youth Dividend - The Future of Digital Skills, whose chief guest was Mr. MVV Prasada Rao, Director, UGC-NET, C.B.S.E and was attended by Mr. Damien O'Sullivan, CEO, ICDL Foundation and Ms. Tina Wu, GM, ICDL Asia.

ICDL also announced its training and testing centers across the Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore who will deliver the ICDL Digital Marketing module to get students certified on International Standards. This certification is aimed at imparting industry-standard Digital Marketing to a range of candidates, including entrepreneurs, business workforce, students, and marketing & communications professionals working in the public and private sector.

Mr. Damien O'Sullivan, CEO of ICDL Foundation, said, "The use of digital technologies 
in all areas of work means that organisational success depends on the digital skills of employees. In addition to competent use of productivity applications, many workers need new digital skills to enable them engage with their customers, clients or constituents. Effective use of digital marketing tools and techniques will enable small and medium organisations in particular to succeed online and benefit from the digital economy."

The module covers core digital marketing topics, including, maintaining online presence, using social media to promote a business, and using online advertising and marketing services. It has been developed to meet the strong demand for new types of digital skills, driven in part by the rise of e-commerce and consumers' rapid adoption of the web and social media as places to shop and spend money, as well as to socialise.

The certification will help in filling the industry gap of creating an industry standard for digital marketing. Speaking at the launch, Mr. Sayem Mehmood, Managing Director, ICDL India, "This Digital Marketing module provides the key skills that are relevant for roles in sales, marketing and communications. It certifies candidate's skills to an internationally recognized and industry standard that is both relevant and comprehensive. Also, with the global launch of the ICDL Digital Marketing Module which took place in Milan, Italy on 27th October 2016 and now in India across multiple centers, we aim to raise levels of digital skills to boost employment and close skills gaps."

Digital Marketing is the newest of ICDL Foundation's Intermediate level modules. This programme is well recognized by governments from across the world including UK, Germany, Italy, Singapore and South Korea to name a few and is used in training workforces in public and private domains, and is integrated into a number of education systems. Earlier this year, ICDL signed an MoU with National Skills Development Corporation to certify one million Indians on international standards for digital skills.

At the Module launch in New Delhi, 08 November 2016

Other distinguished Panelists include Mr. Kamlesh Vyas, Director EY, Ms. Poornima Rai, Head Online Sales, Aircel, Mr. Anup Sharma, Strategy Consultant, Dr. KJS Anand, Director, IMS Noida, Mr. Ravi Pillai, Former head City & Guilds India, Dr. Jatinder Singh and Mr. Tahsin Zahid, Co-Chairs Skills Committee PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

About ICDL

As an international benchmark for digital skills recognized in 150 countries, ICDL has trained and certified over 14 million people in 41 languages through its network of 24,000 centres worldwide. Governments, corporations, NGOs and educational institutions alike, have trusted and applied ICDL to bridge the global digital divide. The focus areas for ICDL in India are Digital Marketing and Advanced Spreadsheet skills.

As a nonprofit social enterprise, ICDL Foundation benefits from the unique support of experts from national computer societies and partners worldwide to develop vendor- independent standards, which define the skills and knowledge required to use digital technology effectively.

ICDL India works with the Government, educational institutions and commercial training organizations to enhance digital proficiency amongst people. Most recently, ICDL has inked a MoU with the National Skills Development Corporation (NSDC) to empower 1 million Indians with digital skills.