lCT practitioner skills and training solutions and sub-degree and vocational level in Europe : guidelines for ICT training and curriculum development

ln recent years the spread and dynamic of information and communications technologies (ICT) across Europe have been steadily increasing. Today the high importance of ICT for the EU economy and business, services, domestic and leisure activities is obvious. ICT developments have created an 'information society' with consequential new possibilities and challenges in all areas of work and life. This is especially true of ICT work itself. ICT practitioners - skilled and highly skilled ICT staff - are needed to manage business and work processes in both the core ICT sector and in ICT user industries. To understand, produce and use the new information and communications technology (computers, networks, the Internet, new hard- and software applications, e-commerce, fixed and mobile telecommunications, consumer electronic devices, digital cameras and television, etc.) , increasingly demands a wide range of ICT competences and skills. This is one of four studies which Cedefop launched in support of the e-Europe programme and e-skills forum set up by the European Commission in 2003, covering three user industries (automotive, banking and financing, media and graphic arts) and the ICT manufacturing industry. The focus of the last of these is on subdegree level skills and training issues.