OCR has launched a nationally-recognised qualification for Microsoft's Digital Literacy Curriculum (DLC) resource which is available to all UK individuals who wish to improve their technology skills.

By making ICT training accessible to people who have not been given an opportunity to develop basic IT skills, DLC represents an important milestone for all individuals to improve their employment prospects and achieve their full potential in life. In this way, the launch of Digital Literacy supports the Government's workplace skills agenda and the recommendations of the Leitch Review of Skills (2006) which called for increases in training and skills across the UK.

John Deacon, OCR National Account Manager, is working in conjunction with Microsoft on the project. He comments:

"At OCR we already work with some of the largest corporations in the world. However, this latest project is perhaps our most exciting collaboration to date.

"Importantly this qualification is available to everyone and the combination of our training and assessment expertise with Microsoft's technology knowledge results in the delivery of an unbeatable curriculum."

Specifically, Microsoft's DLC:

• Anglicises the core curriculum to support the wider DIUS Skills for Life agenda (i.e. literacy and numeracy, as well as ICT skills). DLC therefore helps to support the growing emphasis on 'embedded' learning, ensuring that technology, literacy and numeracy become seamless and integral through the learning process
• Provides learners with a nationally recognised OCR Entry Level Certificate in Digital Literacy (Entry 3)
• Helps individuals to progress to key qualifications such as iTQ and also provide flexibility by enabling learners to study at home, at work or at the centre.

For further information on Digital Literacy and centre approval, please contact the OCR Customer Contact Centre on 02476 851509 or visit the Digital Literacy qualification page.