Indicative course titles and durations for Applied Digital Courses. 

The hours are programme-design choices, not regulatory standards.

DIVISION A: DIGITAL PRODUCTIVITY SKILLS

These courses address the practical gaps you have observed in colleges and among the general public.

Course 1. Practical Spreadsheet Skills Using Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets

Proposed duration: 12 hours

This should be one of VIIM's flagship courses.

Participants learn to:

• Enter, organise and format data.

• Create tables and maintain records.

• Use SUM, AVERAGE, MIN, MAX and COUNT.

• Apply percentage calculations.

• Use IF and other useful conditional formulas.

• Sort and filter data.

• Create bar charts, line charts and pie charts.

• Format charts with appropriate titles, labels and scales.

• Prepare monthly reports.

• Use AI to explain formulas and help troubleshoot errors.

Practical projects:

• Household monthly budget.

• College marksheet with automatic totals and percentages.

• Small-shop sales register.

• Monthly expense analysis with charts.

• Student attendance tracker.

The course teaches both Excel and Google Sheets, while explaining their similarities and differences.

The ability to use a spreadsheet effectively is useful across education, administration, retail, accounting support, research and small-business management.

Course 2. Spreadsheet Formulas, Data Analysis and Reporting

Proposed duration: 15 hours

This is the next step for participants who complete Course 1.

Topics include:

• Relative and absolute cell references.

• IF and nested logical conditions.

• COUNTIF and SUMIF.

• Lookup functions, including XLOOKUP where available.

• Conditional formatting.

• Data validation and drop-down lists.

• Pivot tables.

• More informative charts.

• Summary reports and dashboards.

• Using AI to generate, explain and verify formulas.

Practical project: Build a working dashboard from a sample dataset.

This course will be particularly useful for teachers, office staff, administrative personnel and small-business owners.

Course 3. Professional Document Creation Using Microsoft Word and Google Docs

Proposed duration: 9 hours

Participants learn to create professional documents quickly and correctly.

Topics include:

• Formatting letters, reports and notices.

• Using headings and page layouts.

• Creating tables and lists.

• Adding headers, footers and page numbers.

• Preparing certificates and simple forms.

• Using templates.

• Exporting documents as PDFs.

• Using AI to draft, revise and format content.

• Checking spelling, grammar and factual accuracy.

Practical projects:

Each participant creates a professional letter, a formatted report, a notice and a reusable document template.

Course 4. Professional Presentations Using PowerPoint and Google Slides

Proposed duration: 9 hours

Topics include:

• Creating effective presentation slides.

• Organising information logically.

• Using layouts, images, charts and diagrams.

• Preparing classroom and business presentations.

• Turning a report into a presentation.

• Using AI to create an initial outline.

• Avoiding overcrowded slides and misleading charts.

Practical project: Produce a complete presentation for a classroom, community event or business.

Course 5. Digital Record-Keeping for Home and Small Business

Proposed duration: 12 hours

This course is especially suitable for the general public, including homemakers.

Participants learn to maintain digital records for:

• Household income and expenditure.

• Monthly budgets and savings goals.

• Grocery and inventory lists.

• School-related expenses.

• Small-business sales and purchases.

• Customer and order records.

• Stock and payment tracking.

• Simple financial summaries.

The course can use Google Sheets or Excel.

Practical project: Developing a personalised record-keeping system for a household or small enterprise.

3. DIVISION B: CREATIVE DESIGN AND CONTENT CREATION

This division is intended for people who want to create attractive material without needing professional graphic-design skills.

Course 6. Poster, Invitation and Advertisement Design Using Canva and AI

Proposed duration: 9 hours

Participants learn to create:

• Birthday and wedding invitations.

• School and college event posters.

• Tuition and coaching advertisements.

• Festival greetings.

• Small-business promotional posters.

• Product advertisements.

• Social-media graphics.

• Event announcements.

They also learn how to use AI to develop the initial text, suggest layouts and generate visual ideas.

The practical emphasis will be on making a finished design, not merely exploring templates.

Practical project: Create five designs for different purposes and export them in suitable formats.

Course 7. Social Media Content Creation Using Free and Freemium AI Tools

Proposed duration: 12 hours

Participants learn to prepare content for:

• WhatsApp Business.

• Instagram.

• Facebook.

• LinkedIn.

• YouTube.

• Community and educational groups.

Topics include:

• Writing captions.

• Preparing short announcements.

• Creating content calendars.

• Producing simple graphics.

• Repurposing one piece of content for different platforms.

• Generating ideas with AI.

• Checking claims, spelling and language.

• Understanding copyright, permissions and responsible image use.

Practical project: Create a seven-day content package for a small business, educational programme or community initiative.

The course will also teach participants not to publish AI-generated factual claims without checking them.

Course 8. Digital Photography, Image Editing and Promotional Material

Proposed duration: 9 hours

Topics include:

• Taking useful photographs with a smartphone.

• Selecting and cropping images.

• Improving brightness and composition.

• Removing distracting backgrounds where suitable tools permit.

• Preparing product images.

• Creating simple promotional layouts.

• Exporting images for print and digital use.

• Understanding image resolution and file formats.

Practical project: Prepare a small product catalogue or a promotional image collection.

This will be useful for people selling homemade food, clothing, handicrafts, tailoring services or other products.

Course 9. Short-Form Video Creation for Education and Small Business

Proposed duration: 12 hours

Participants learn to create short videos for educational explanations, product promotion and public communication.

Topics include:

• Planning a short video.

• Writing a simple script with AI assistance.

• Recording using a smartphone.

• Adding titles and captions.

• Combining photographs, video clips and text.

• Recording a voice-over.

• Preparing vertical videos.

• Exporting and publishing videos.

Practical project: Create three short videos for a business, educational topic or personal portfolio.

4. DIVISION C: WEBSITES, BLOGS AND ONLINE PUBLISHING

VIIM would help participants move from using digital services to establishing a digital presence of their own.

Course 10. Create Your First Website Using Google Sites

Proposed duration: 9 hours

This is an excellent beginner course because participants can create a useful website without first learning programming.

Participants learn to create:

• A personal profile website.

• A tuition or coaching website.

• A small-business website.

• A community organisation website.

• An event website.

• A portfolio website.

Topics include:

• Creating pages and navigation menus.

• Adding text and images.

• Embedding suitable Google files and other content.

• Designing a readable layout.

• Publishing and sharing the website.

• Updating information.

• Understanding the difference between a free site address and a custom domain.

Practical project: Publish a five-page website.

Possible pages include Home, About, Services, Gallery and Contact.

Course 11. Blogging and Digital Publishing Using WordPress

Proposed duration: 12 hours

Participants learn to publish articles and maintain a blog.

Topics include:

• Choosing a blog subject.

• Organising categories and posts.

• Writing and editing articles.

• Adding images.

• Formatting content.

• Creating navigation pages.

• Publishing posts.

• Basic search-engine optimisation.

• Using AI to help prepare drafts.

• Checking originality, accuracy and copyright.

Practical project: Publish three original blog posts and organise them into categories.

Course 12. AI-Assisted Website Creation and Online Portfolio Development

Proposed duration: 15 hours

This course combines website creation with AI-assisted planning and content preparation.

Participants learn to:

• Define the purpose and audience of a website.

• Generate a site structure using AI.

• Prepare page content.

• Create suitable images and promotional graphics.

• Build and publish the site using an appropriate platform.

• Test navigation and mobile readability.

• Create a portfolio of their work.

• Update and maintain the website.

Practical project: Publish a personal or professional portfolio website.

This could be particularly valuable for job seekers, freelancers, tutors, consultants and small-business owners.

Course 13. Digital Forms, Surveys and Online Registration Systems

Proposed duration: 9 hours

Participants learn to create practical online systems using tools such as Google Forms and Google Sheets.

Applications include:

• Event registration.

• Feedback collection.

• Customer enquiries.

• Simple surveys.

• Tuition enquiries.

• Order requests.

• Attendance collection.

• Volunteer registration.

Practical project: Build a registration form linked to an organised response sheet, with a summary report.

This course also creates a pathway towards administrative and data-handling work.

5. DIVISION D: AI-ASSISTED WORK AND AUTOMATION

The goal here is not to teach AI as an abstract subject. It is to help participants use AI to complete everyday tasks more efficiently.

Course 14. Everyday AI for Work, Home and Learning

Proposed duration: 6 hours

This will be the entry-level AI course for the public.

Topics include:

• What AI tools can and cannot do.

• Writing useful prompts.

• Drafting letters and messages.

• Summarising documents.

• Translating and improving text.

• Planning lessons, events and activities.

• Generating ideas.

• Preparing checklists.

• Using AI alongside documents and spreadsheets.

• Checking outputs for errors and fabricated information.

• Protecting personal and confidential information.

Practical project: Complete five everyday tasks using AI assistance and verify the results.

Participants will learn to ask AI for help without assuming that every answer is correct.

Course 15. AI-Assisted Office Productivity

Proposed duration: 12 hours

This course combines AI with spreadsheets, documents and presentations.

Participants learn to use AI to:

• Explain spreadsheet formulas.

• Suggest formulas for specific tasks.

• Draft reports from structured information.

• Improve documents.

• Generate presentation outlines.

• Summarise data.

• Suggest chart types.

• Identify possible inconsistencies.

• Create reusable templates.

Practical project: Convert a small set of raw information into a formatted report, a spreadsheet analysis and a presentation.

Course 16. Create Digital Products Using AI and Free Tools

Proposed duration: 15 hours

This is particularly suitable for people interested in creating material for their own use or offering services.

Possible products include:

• Invitation templates.

• Educational worksheets.

• Posters.

• Business flyers.

• Presentation templates.

• Simple e-books.

• Product catalogues.

• Social-media content packages.

• Digital planners and trackers.

The course will cover originality, licensing, quality control and the importance of not selling material that infringes someone else's rights.

Practical project: Create a portfolio containing at least five original digital products.

6. DIVISION E: DIGITAL ENTERPRISE AND INCOME GENERATION

VIIM teaches skills that may help participants obtain work or develop services. It does not promise that completing a course will automatically generate income.

Course 17. Digital Services for Small Businesses and Local Entrepreneurs

Proposed duration: 15 hours

Participants learn to prepare a basic digital-service package for a small business.

Possible services include:

• Posters and promotional graphics.

• Product catalogues.

• Simple websites.

• Business documents.

• Spreadsheet-based records.

• Customer registration forms.

• Social-media content.

• Basic presentation design.

Practical project: Develop a sample digital-service package for a local business, such as a tailoring unit, tuition centre, food business or retail shop.

Course 18. Freelancing Foundations: Build a Digital Skills Portfolio

Proposed duration: 12 hours

Topics include:

• Identifying a service one can provide.

• Creating a work portfolio.

• Preparing a service description.

• Estimating the time needed for a task.

• Communicating with clients.

• Clarifying requirements.

• Revising work based on feedback.

• Maintaining records of work and payments.

• Recognising scams and suspicious job offers.

Practical project: Prepare a portfolio with at least five work samples and a clear description of the services offered.

This course is presented as preparation for seeking work, not as a guarantee of freelance employment.

Course 19. Digital Marketing Foundations for Home-Based Businesses

Proposed duration: 12 hours

Topics include:

• Defining a target audience.

• Preparing promotional material.

• Creating a basic content calendar.

• Developing a simple online presence.

• Writing product descriptions.

• Maintaining a product catalogue.

• Collecting customer enquiries.

• Understanding basic engagement measures.

• Protecting customer information.

• Evaluating whether promotional activities are effective.

Practical project: Develop a basic digital marketing package for a small business.

Course 20. AI-Assisted Micro-Enterprise: From Idea to Digital Presence

Proposed duration: 30 hours

This is VIIM's flagship course for the general public.

Participants work towards developing a small, realistic digital enterprise or service.

The course combines:

• Digital productivity.

• Spreadsheet-based record-keeping.

• Document creation.

• Poster and promotional design.

• Website or blog creation.

• AI-assisted content preparation.

• Basic digital marketing.

• Portfolio development.

• Practical evaluation.

Final project: Each participant develops a digital presence and a portfolio for a proposed or existing enterprise.

For example, a participant who prepares homemade snacks could create a product catalogue, promotional posters, an enquiry form, an expense tracker and a simple website.

Another participant might offer document formatting, poster design and spreadsheet services.

This integrated approach gives participants a reason to learn the tools: they are using them to achieve a concrete goal.

VIIM Digital Skills for Everyday Life and Independent Work

Proposed duration: 15 hours

Audience: Homemakers, adult learners, self-employed people, job seekers and others with basic literacy.

Module 1: Create and Communicate — 3 hours

• Prepare a professional document.

• Write a clear letter or announcement with AI assistance.

• Create an invitation or poster.

• Save and share documents correctly.

Module 2: Organise and Calculate — 3 hours

• Maintain a household budget.

• Calculate monthly expenditure.

• Prepare a shopping or inventory list.

• Create a simple chart.

• Understand the difference between entering a number and calculating it using a formula.

Module 3: Design and Promote — 3 hours

• Create promotional graphics.

• Prepare a festival greeting or event poster.

• Make a product catalogue.

• Develop a short social-media post.

Module 4: Establish a Digital Presence — 3 hours

• Create a simple website or digital portfolio.

• Add text, images and contact information.

• Publish and share the site.

• Understand what information should not be made public.

Module 5: Use AI and Build a Portfolio — 3 hours

• Use AI to draft, edit and organise content.

• Check AI-generated information.

• Complete an integrated practical task.

• Assemble examples of the work completed.

Final output: A document, a working spreadsheet, a poster, a digital portfolio and a simple published website.

1. VIIM Skill Certificate Course in Practical Spreadsheet Skills Using Excel and Google Sheets

Duration: 12 hours

This practical course equips participants to organise data, perform calculations and present information using Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets. Topics include data entry and formatting, basic formulas and functions, percentage calculations, sorting and filtering, and creating meaningful charts. Participants practise developing useful spreadsheets for household budgeting, student marksheets, attendance, expenses and small-business records. AI tools may be used to explain formulas and troubleshoot errors, with emphasis on independently checking calculations and results.

Expected outcome: Participants will be able to create, use and verify practical spreadsheets for everyday, educational and work-related tasks.

2. VIIM Skill Certificate Course in Poster and Advertisement Design Using Canva and AI

Duration: 9 hours

This hands-on course develops the ability to create attractive and effective posters and advertisements using Canva and suitable AI tools. Participants learn to select templates, organise text and visual elements, choose appropriate colours and typography, prepare promotional messages, and export designs for digital sharing or printing. Practical exercises may include event posters, tuition advertisements, festival greetings, product promotions and small-business publicity. Participants also learn to review AI-generated content, check factual accuracy and spelling, and assess the readability and suitability of their designs.

Expected outcome: Participants will be able to independently create and refine posters and advertisements for personal, educational, community or business use.

3. VIIM Skill Certificate Course in Website Creation Using Google Sites

Duration: 9 hours

This practical course introduces participants to creating and publishing websites using Google Sites, without requiring programming knowledge. Participants learn to plan a website, create pages and navigation menus, add and format text and images, organise information, embed suitable content, and publish and share their websites. AI tools may assist with planning site structure and drafting content, while participants remain responsible for checking accuracy, permissions and relevance. Practical examples include personal portfolios, tuition-centre websites, small-business websites and community information sites.

Expected outcome: Participants will be able to create, publish, test and update a simple website for a defined purpose.

4. VIIM Integrated Internship and Skill Certification Programme in Digital Productivity and Content Creation

Duration: 60 hours — proposed structure

This integrated programme combines practical internship experience with a separately defined skill development and assessment component. Participants explore and apply digital tools to produce useful documents, spreadsheets, presentations, posters and digital content. They may also develop a simple online presence using appropriate website or publishing tools. AI-assisted activities support planning, drafting, problem-solving and content development, while the VIIM AI-GUIDE approach encourages questioning, refinement and independent verification.

The programme comprises two distinct components:

• Part A — Internship and Practical Learning: 30 hours. Participants explore digital productivity and content creation tools, undertake guided exercises, apply their learning to practical tasks, and complete a mini-project with documented outputs.

• Part B — Skill Development and Certification: 30 hours. Participants practise specified competencies and undertake independent practical tasks assessed against defined criteria. The assessment verifies their ability to use the relevant tools and produce appropriate outputs.

The two components have distinct activities and documented requirements; the same work is not simply be counted twice.

Expected outcome: Participants will develop a portfolio of practical digital outputs and demonstrate defined competencies in digital productivity and content creation.

Participants who meet the published requirements may receive the applicable Internship Completion Certificate and/or Skill Certificate. The integrated certificate arrangement should be agreed upon clearly before enrolment.

Disclaimer: These durations are proposed VIIM course designs, not prescribed regulatory standards. For each Skill Certificate Course, VIIM will publish learning outcomes, practical assessment criteria and completion requirements. The 60-hour integrated programme does not automatically confer university credits or diploma status.