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Certiport Delegation Joins United Nations World
Summit to Address Global Access to Digital Economy
World Summit on the Information Society Features Key Address
from Manitoba First Nations Speaker on Digital Divide among
Aboriginal Communities and Cultures
TUNIS – November 22, 2005 – Members of
the Certiport executive committee and their partners in Canada, CCI
Learning Solutions (CCI), convened Nov. 16-18 with government
officials and other business leaders from around the world to
discuss implementation of measures aimed at bridging the digital
divide between the world’s richest and poorest countries. Led by
world leaders, including prime ministers, presidents, and other
heads of state, phase two of the United Nation’s World Summit of the
Information Society (WSIS) introduced ways to provide developing
countries and underserved populations with access to vital
technologies, empowering them to overcome poverty, illiteracy,
hunger and other nationally debilitating exigencies.
The conference featured aboriginal youth ambassador
for Canada and presenter Jacqueline Sinclair who highlighted efforts
of Manitoba First Nations to integrate digital literacy skills and
Internet connectivity through the Manitoba First Nations SchoolNet (MFNS)
program, improving access to the global digital community. Certiport
Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³®), adopted as the
standard for digital literacy, has played an integral role in the
community’s program to become digitally connected.
The MFNS program was developed as a private-public
synergistic approach to solving digital isolation among the
aboriginal community of Manitoba First Nations in Canada and has
received funding from the Industry Canada SchoolNet program to
approach Certiport and CCI for digital literacy solutions. The
ensuing collaboration resulted in an innovative model for the
successful achievement of the program’s goals.
Bringing the voice of her community to a world
audience, Sinclair’s presentation, entitled, “The Role of ICT
Literacy in First Nations Communities in Manitoba,” addressed the
growing disparity between individuals with current and relevant
skills necessary to participate effectively in the digital community
and those without.
Sinclair was selected by Industry Canada First
Nations SchoolNet as one of only six young Aboriginal leaders to
represent Canada at the summit. Her story began when she left her
home community at age 14. Although she began with few computer
skills in high school, Sinclair seized available opportunities to
become digitally literate. She has advanced from intern with the
Manitoba First Nations SchoolNet Youth Initiative to regional
coordinator and is now a training specialist for the MFNS team.
Sinclair and the MFNS team are currently working
with Certiport and CCI to roll out a program designed to train a
broader and more diverse group (totaling more than 1,000
individuals) in First Nations, Manitoba.
“Our training and validation solution built on the
rigor of the IC³ global standard for digital literacy is at the
center of this important initiative,” said Susan Sambol, vice
president of CCI. “Jacqueline represents the new voice of aboriginal
youth, now equipped with digital skills for true global
participation.”
Following Sinclair’s presentation, several
delegations from countries around the world began talks with
Certiport’s executive vice president in charge of Europe, the Middle
East and Africa, Marie Taylor, to plan for similar implementations
in their respective countries.
“The foundation of economic health and prosperity
for cultures and nations lies in their ability to build basic skills
that qualify them to participate as effective members of the global
community,” said David Saedi, president and CEO of Certiport and
summit committee attendee. “Today, adoption of the IC³ program for
digital literacy ensures that individuals gain the relevant critical
skills needed to advance their education, find and keep meaningful
employment, and become more effective citizens in the Digital Age.”
Under the guidance of Certiport’s chief learning
officer, Beverly Keating MacIntyre, and in participation with First
Nations, Manitoba, the success of this program will translate into a
blueprint enabling digital inclusion for communities worldwide.
A record attendance of over 25,000 participants
reaffirmed the Tunis commitment outlined in 40 points, including a
focus on developing human capacity and creating information and
communication technologies (ICT) applications in local languages,
attention to the needs of marginalized and vulnerable groups, a
commitment to women’s empowerment and gender equality, and the
promotion of peace and conflict prevention using the potential of
ICTs.
“This summit must be a summit of solutions,” said
Kofi Annan, secretary-general of the United Nations, in his opening
remarks to summit attendees. “It must lead to information and
communications technologies being used in new ways, which will bring
new benefits to all social classes. Most of all, it must generate
new momentum towards developing the economies and societies of poor
countries, and transforming the lives of poor people.”
The projects addressed during the first half of the
World Summit held two years ago in Geneva were targeted at
developing programs to overcome digital isolation (www.wsis.org).
About Certiport
Certiport provides industry-leading training, assessment, and
certification solutions that enable individuals to develop the
skills necessary to achieve more, distinguish themselves and advance
in today’s academic and business environments. These solutions
include the Certiport Internet and Computing Core Certification
(IC³®), the Microsoft Office Specialist certification program and
Microsoft IT Academy delivered through a channel of more than 9,000
Certiport Centers worldwide. For more information about Certiport,
visit www.certiport.com.
About CCI Learning Solutions
CCI is a Canadian publisher that offers complete solutions for
teaching and validating essential skills needed in today's
workplace. CCI provides courseware for instructor led classes,
e-learning courses, blended training solutions and official
certification exams. All of CCI's Microsoft and Certiport products
carry the official accreditation for both IC³ and Microsoft Office
Specialist certifications. For more information about CCI solutions
and service visit
www.ccilearning.com.
About SchoolNet
Industry Canada's SchoolNet works in collaboration with governments,
non-profit organizations and the private sector to position Canada
at the global forefront of e-learning readiness, to support the
innovative use of information and communications technologies (ICT)
for life-long learning and to promote the competitiveness of the
e-learning industry
Certiport and IC³ are registered trademarks of
Certiport, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Microsoft
and the Microsoft Office logo are registered trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation in the United States and other countries. |
