Electric Paper, the Dublin-based international e-learning company with offices in Harrow, Middlesex, has joined with Watsonia Publishing to provide IT literacy skills training materials to some 1,000 people across New South Wales (NSW), Australia.

The deal, signed with the New South Wales Adult & Community Education Council (ACE), involves providing an IT literacy training program to some 40 ACE accredited organisations, which will deliver the training program at 54 sites throughout NSW. Additional revenue will be generated from the provision of Electric Paper's automated testing to ACE accredited Test Centres over the next 12 months.
Electric Paper and Watsonia will provide a total IT literacy training solution, based on the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) curriculum, an internationally recognised qualification for achieving certain standards in IT literacy skills. Electric Paper is an acknowledged leader in the provision of training programs for the ECDL - the similar European qualification.

Participation in this initiative is open to the entire community in New South Wales and particularly to individuals from groups that have been disadvantaged in education and training. These groups include people from non-English speaking backgrounds; people with disabilities; people of a mature age; unemployed people, and people without adequate literacy and numeracy skills.

Commenting on the announcement, Susan Moore, national manager of Electric Paper Australia said: "Electric Paper is delighted to be involved in this project which is an exciting initiative for the community in New South Wales. Our area of expertise is focused on the delivery of IT literacy skills to ordinary people everywhere. This expertise fits in perfectly with the missions and plans of ACE.

The Electric Paper and Watsonia Publishing ICDL course materials include seven modules which explore: basic concepts of Information Technology (IT), using a computer and managing files, word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, information and communication. There is a mix of CD based learning and instructor lead courseware providing centres with the flexibility to cater for all learning styles.