Czechitas - Czech republic

Czechitas has been systematically helping women overcome barriers to accessing digital and technological education for more than a decade. The organisation has gradually expanded its activities from retraining and women's entry into IT to developing skills in artificial intelligence (AI), data, cybersecurity, digital productivity and other competencies needed for a fast-changing job market. Its educational model combines accessible courses, community support, practice teachers, career support and collaboration with employers. Close to 100,000 learners have benefitted from the initiative over the 12 years it has been running for. 

About this initiative

Digitalisation, automation and AI's rapid development and uptake are fundamentally changing the demands on employees across professions and sectors. According to the data provided by Czechitas, only about one in ten adults in the Czech Republic is adequately skilled to reap the benefits of this transition. Women continue to face specific barriers in this regard: in the Czech republic, they represent just 12% of ICT employees. 

It is precisely these barriers Czechitas works to break. The aim is not only to support women in transitioning to ICT from other sectors, but also to strengthen their ability to continuously adapt to technological change. This is why Czechitas's trainings are not only covering traditional IT topics, but also AI, big data, digital productivity, cybersecurity, and competences related to leadership and technological transformation. Czechitas combines technical, AI and soft skills and involves more than 600 practitioners in teaching. The approach also includes a safe learning environment, a supportive community, career support and connecting participants with employers. 

Why is this a good practice?

Czechitas is more than an individual learning project: it is a long-term and scalable model that connects education, employers, the community, career support and accessibility mechanisms. It brings together an entire support ecosystem that is replicable to other contexts and countries: identifying the group facing barriers, offering relevant education tailored to the needs of the labour market, involving companies and practitioners, reducing financial barriers and creating a community and a safe space to foster further professional growth. This model is what can serve as an inspiration for other regions, countries or target groups. 

Since the start of Czechitas, a total of 94,000 learners have benefitted from education actions. In 12 years, the organisation has delivered more than 37,000 hours of teaching, its community has more than 30,000 members and 94% of participants would recommend Czechitas education further. One collaboration with SAP succeeded in increasing the share of women employed in the company's Brno branch from 9 to 22%. 

Another clear advantage is the organisation's emphasis on accessible education. Participants pay a reduced price (capped at around 20 to 30% of the full price of the course). A total of 268 million CZK has been disbursed as financial aid already.