We are pleased to announce the Thirteenth Skills Conference to be held at the School of Continuing Education (SCE), the American University in Cairo, Egypt. This year, the subject addresses is "Literacies in Context: Implications for Students, Teachers and Educational Systems."

Information literacy forms the basis for lifelong learning. It is common to all disciplines, to all learning environments, and to all levels of education. It allows learners to become more self-directed, to have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use the needed information effectively. Over the past several decades, the definition of literacy has evolved from a narrow focus on reading and writing to a more inclusive and expanded perspective. The most commonly-mentioned literacy types are: Prose Literacy (reading and writing); Document Literacy, and Quantities Literacy (also known as numeracy); Visual Literacy (including media and environmental); Information Literacy and ICT Literacy (information and communication technology).

This Thirteenth Conference will feature a testing colloquium, concurrent presentations, plenary sessions, a book exhibition, and an IT Valley.  Keynote speakers are sponsored by the United States Public Affairs Section, the British Council and various publishers.

All are invited to present and to participate. Colleagues in ministries, schools, institutes, faculties of education, universities, adult education centers and publishers are all most welcome. The broader the range of professional interests and backgrounds, the more stimulating and challenging the conference will be.