Q-Validus releases IT training programme
IT certification firm Q-Validus has launched its main product to market and has announced its first deal with Coatbridge College in Glasgow.
The company, which is based in UCD’s technology transfer centre Nova UCD, has developed Computer Wings, an IT training programme which is aimed at teaching specific business IT skills such as project management, e -marketing, search engine optimisation and web analytics, using such applications as Microsoft Project, Visio, Publisher, Dreamweaver, Google Analytics and Ad Words.
According to David Carpenter, chief executive of Q-Validus, Computer Wings is endorsed by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and has been rated within the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. Carpenter explained that the certification by the SQA came about through existing business relationships the company had in Britain.
One of its partners had been working closely with the SQA, which then heard about what Q-Validus was developing and agreed to collaborate with the Irish company in fitting it into its qualifications framework.
Carpenter said that collaboration with the SQA will also enable the company to gain recognition from other standards authorities and expand into other markets, given the number of international agreements in place.
‘‘The UK is such a large market, but the SQA also has an international presence with operations worldwide,” he said.
Carpenter previously served as chief executive of the ECDL Foundation for ten years, while his co-founder Gary Cleere was previously head of certification at ECDL. Dudley Doolan, former Trinity College computer science lecturer, serves as chairman of the company. He previously served as vice chairman of the CEPIS User Skills Task Force, which developed the ECDL.
The company is backed by investment from its founders and from Enterprise Ireland, which has designated the company as a High Potential StartUp.
