"Digitally Included" Platform - Slovenia

The Digitally Included Platform is the first platform of this kind in Slovenia that contributes to increasing the digital literacy of older people, increasing their social inclusion, and bridging the intergenerational digital divide. The project's official name is "Digitally included - Intergenerational synergy in the digital learning environment for quality aging". 

The project ran from the start of January 2022 until the end of 2023, and was coordinated by ZDUS, the Slovenian Federation of Pensioners Associations in collaboration with the Institute for Intergenerational Cooperation Symbiosis Genesis (Symbiosis) and Institute for Research, Training and Consulting in Public Health & e-Health, IZRIIS (IZRIIS Institute). The Slovenian Institute for Adult Education (ACS) was an associate partner, and the project received funding from the Ministry of Public Administration in Slovenia from the NGO fund. 

The "Digitally Included" Platform

The project addressed an already identified deficit in Slovenia - the ability of older persons to integrate into a digital and information-governed society. It also took into account the specific needs and abilities of older people by establishing feedback loops throughout the project. In this way, non-formal education and content focused on digital literacy and its impact allowed the Slovenian platform to make an active contribution to the overall awareness of the benefits and importance of using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) for a more inclusive information society.

Four options for older persons through different means 

1.  Lifelong learning to acquire functional digital skills 
2.  Studying the use of key e-services for older people 
3.  Access to active and healthy ageing content and programmes
4.  Participation and learning in intergenerational virtual meetings

Options 1 and 2 took place through self-study video content for independent learning, innovatively introduced through the gaming system. Option 3 included interactive content by older people themselves, while Option 4 was aimed at improving inclusion and enabling older people to make extensive use of the acquired knowledge. 

The platform remains accessible at digitalnovkljuceni.si, where users can still access all four content areas.

Why is this a good practice?

The Digital Included Project promoted digital literacy among older people, narrowed the intergenerational digital divide, promoted co-leading inclusion, used innovative approaches and promoted non-formulated education. The project can serve as a role model and inspiration for similar initiatives both in Slovenia and in other countries where they face similar challenges with regard to the digital inclusion of the population.