ITQ Qualification

e-skills Passport

• What is e-skills Passport?
• How does the Passport link to ITQ?
• Why is it essential?
• How do I create an e-skills Passport and how long should it take to complete?
• How much does it cost and how do I get started? 

What is e-skills Passport?

The e-skills Passport is a simple-to-use on-line tool that enables individuals and organisations to assess current IT skills, identify gaps, and set learning targets and record improvement. e-skills Passport enables users to record achievements and re-visit their passports again and again as skills improve. Organisations use e-skills Passport to get a snapshot of workforce IT skills, plan for ITQ and target training accordingly.

At the heart of e-skills Passport is an employer-defined framework of skills, which is linked closely to the IT User National Occupational Standards, upon which most IT training in the UK and all UK IT qualifications are based.

Users start by self-assessing their current skills against 15 common computing techniques by answering yes/no questions at five levels (inexperienced, foundation, intermediate, advanced and super-user).

Once the self-assessment is complete, learning can be planned to improve your skills towards targets set. This can simply be the learning of new skills OR you can gain qualifications and record those in your e-skills Passport.

NB: To use e-skills Passport you will require a minimum set of Operate a Computer skills such as the ability to use a mouse, access the internet, and enter data using a keyboard. e-skills Passport is not intended or suitable for individuals with no IT skills whatsoever, and those individuals may need help using the tool at first. 
 

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How does the Passport link to ITQ? 

The e-skills Passport is an ideal tool to use for determining a user’s starting point, planning a tailor-made ITQ based on an individual’s job role, and recording progress. Both individuals and employers use e-skills Passport to define current and required skills needs and learning objectives prior to starting their ITQ, set goals and then record and monitor progress. e-skills Passport incorporates an ITQ calculator and planner. Organisations benefit from gaining an in-depth perspective into where exactly on the ITQ-path users start their journey as well as their progress and what qualifications are being achieved en-route. 

This will give the individual and their sponsor organisation a complete overview of their developing skills record. Passport holders can submit completed qualifications or units to be validated by Awarding Bodies via e-skills UK, which will then feature in the user’s Record of Achievement. This gives the user an independently approved skills record.

As the e-skills Passport is completely web-based, users can access their passport from any computer with an internet connection.

Organisations can create, customise and then manage their own bespoke version of the e-skills Passport.

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Why is it essential? 

The e-skills Passport gives the user an at-a-glance profile of their IT user skills so they can see where they have gaps and plan training accordingly.

As users improve their skills, they can update their e-skills Passport and set new targets for themselves. This lets the user keep track of their skills over time.  

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How do I create an e-skills Passport and how long should it take to complete? 

Visit www.e-skillspassport.com. In order to create an e-skills Passport the user has to complete the Passport registration section and assess their IT user skills in the ‘Assess my Skills’ section. The whole process takes about 20 - 30 minutes. Once complete, the e-skills Passport can be revisited and updated at any time, printed and e-mailed.

Download a Guide for Users which will help you register and start creating your e-skills Passport.

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How much does it cost and how do I start? 

e-skills Passports cost £10 plus VAT per user per annum. This gives each user in your organisation unlimited access to e-skills Passport for 12 months. The 12 month period commences when an individual registers with e-skills Passport. Included in that price is access to e-skills Passport Office, which lets up to 5 administrators in your organisation use the extensive customisation functions available with e-skills Passport.

Acquiring e-skills Passports is an easy process. Simply send your Purchase Order to e-skills UK, stating the number of e-skills Passports you require and in return we will issue you with the appropriate access keys and instructions.

For enquiries or orders please e-mail passportsales@e-skills.com.

We are sorry, but at the moment we are unable to issue e-skills Passports for individuals, unless they are sponsored by an employer, training provider or other relevant organisation.

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Last modified: 10 Jun 2008