Adobe today announced that the Adobe Certified Associate (ACA), an existing certification in entry-level skills for Adobe Dreamweaver, Flash and Photoshop, has been added to UK awarding body OCR’s Creative iMedia suite of qualifications. OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA) is a leading UK awarding body, providing a wide range of qualifications, including AS/A Levels, GCSEs, OCR Nationals, Key Skills, Entry Level qualifications, NVQs, and more. Mark Young, from Academy Class comments on today’s announcement; “Without ACA, an employer has no way of judging how good an interviewee’s skills are in the most popular Adobe packages… So it’s absolutely fantastic that the ACA credential is now recognised by OCR and gives it an even better reputation with both students and industry”

Adobe Press Release

Adobe Certified Associate (ACA) to contribute to nationally recognised IT qualification with OCR

Announcement made as part of “License To Create” initiative

LONDON — Nov. 04, 2010 — Adobe today announces that the Adobe Certified Associate (ACA), an existing certification in entry-level skills for Adobe Dreamweaver, Flash and Photoshop, has been added to UK awarding body OCR’s Creative iMedia suite of qualifications. Adobe’s “License To Create” initiative, which will be launched today at a gala event at the Tate Modern Gallery in London, means that schools and colleges can now offer students nationally recognised qualifications for their skills using Adobe software.

For Adobe, this initiative represents the company’s commitment to creativity in education and ensuring that students have industry-standard skills when they enter the workplace. Working with educators and professionals to identify the skills students need to be able to communicate and work creatively, the Adobe Certified Associate was set up to certify entry-level skills needed to effectively use digital media tools across the internet, print, video and design, and then apply them to a number of disciplines.

Developed in conjunction with Certiport, the ACA includes examinations that are closely aligned with the curriculum and course units will now appear on the Register of Regulated Qualifications as specialist units within the OCR Creative iMedia qualifications.

Liz Wilkins, Senior Marketing Manager for Adobe Systems UK, said: “At Adobe, we have worked closely with educational institutions for many years, championing the use of digital media tools and integrating them into a range of subject areas in order to better prepare students for the future demands of the workplace. Following last month’s Spending Review and the news that key educational initiatives, such as Creative Partnerships are set to go, it’s even more important that other initiatives are put in place to create a link between students and creative professionals. We feel that ACA aligned with the OCR nationally recognised qualifications will help to bridge that gap.”

Awarding body OCR leads the market in providing vocational IT qualifications. John Deacon, OCR Business Manager, said: “For several years, Adobe has greatly influenced the international media market through its industry-recognised creative media software.  OCR customers asked if there was some way we could recognise the Adobe Certified Associate as a qualification, so we knew that there was real demand out there.”

Craig Bewley, CEO of Prodigy Learning, said: “Adobe Certified Associate is a recognised global standard for students who want to pursue a career in graphic design, web marketing, video production or other digital communications.  National accreditations make it easier than ever before for students, schools, colleges and Universities to get involved.”

Education establishments already offering the Adobe Certified Associate include London Metropolitan University, Sawtry Community College in Cambridgeshire and Academy Class, the new media training company for creatives and developers in UK and beyond.

Mark Young, from Academy Class comments on today’s announcement; “Without ACA, an employer has no way of judging how good an interviewee’s skills are in the most popular Adobe packages of Photoshop, Flash and Dreamweaver. So it’s absolutely fantastic that the ACA credential is now recognised by OCR and gives it an even better reputation with both students and industry. We are very, very happy about this.”

More information on the initiative can be found at www.licensetocreate.co.uk.

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