Poland - Broad Alliance for Digital Skills
The Broad Alliance was established in 2013 on the initiative of the Digital Champion and the Minister of Digitisation. It was launched under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland. Broad Alliance for Digital Skills in Poland (Coalition) is an informal, voluntary coalition of non government organisations (NGOs), academic institutions, regional governments, professional organisations and companies that support its goals and work to achieve them.
The purpose of the Coalition is to work towards the full use of the potential of modern information technology for the development of Poland, which significantly transforms virtually all aspects of life, the functioning of society and economy, and to a large extent - also the one of individuals.
The Coalition seeks to establish synergies between different implemented initiatives, collects information about good practices and disseminates them in a variety of environments, including fields, untouched by the digital transformation. By increasing overall awareness of the benefits and risks associated with technology, the Coalition contributes to the improvement of access to knowledge and information on a broader level. It also supports citizens' ability to acquire the skills necessary within a dynamically changing labour market, and promotes digital participation in public life, as well as active participation in culture.
National coalition details
The priorities of the Coalition's activities focus on coordination and building partnerships in terms of:
- Developing digital awareness.
- Supporting the increased use of information and communication technology (ICT) in education at all levels (especially in the context of COVID-19 pandemic).
- Preparing teachers to use and apply digital technology and tools at schools.
- Supporting the teaching and learning of programming in schools.
- Contributing to the development of digital competencies for all.
- Promoting best practices and recognising individuals, who significantly contribute to improvement digital skills competences (such as the annual competition Lista100).
- Enhancing participation in developing and public consultations of national strategies and programs for the development of digital competences.
- Participation in the drafting, development and consultations on the programming operational programs of European Union funds allocated to digital transformation.
- Preparation of social declarations and manifestos (e.g. Manifesto for the Development of Digital Competencies in Poland).
- Supporting the availability of digital services and content for the visually and hearing impaired.
The Coalition's partners were initially invited by the first Digital Champion in Poland, Włodzimierz Marciński, who also chairs the Program Committee of the Alliance. Partners of the Coalition include: non-governmental organisations (NGOs), information technology (IT) sector companies, universities, industry associations of employers, and regional governments units.
In 2018, all (15) regional governments in Poland joined the Coalition. The leading partners are: the Orange Foundation, the Polish Information Processing Society, the Institute of Public Affairs, the Widzialni Foundation, and the Polish Chamber of Information Technology and Telecommunications. The Coalition cooperates also with a wide range of public institutions on local, regional and national level in Poland, active in the area of the digital transformation.
