CONNECT University - How can the EU boost advanced digital skills?

An online CONNECT University session will take place on the morning of 27 February, from 10:00 to 12:00 CET. Organised by the European Commission, this edition of the flagship initiative will focus on strategies for boosting advanced digital skills throughout Europe. 

Background 

Despite efforts on local, national, and EU level to upgrade citizens' digital competence, statistics point to a worrying trend: close to half of Europeans lack even basic digital literacy, and this is one of the largest challenges outlined in the 'State of Digital Decade Report', and reflected in the 2030 Digital Compass targets. A similar challenge exists in the labour force as well, with companies experiencing difficulties in attracting and retaining ICT specialists. Europe is also lagging behind the global talent race in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and this is key to ensuring the continent's status as a global pioneer in the race for talents. 

One workshop, two parts 

The workshop is divided in two parts: 

1. A set of two presentations, setting the scene with regards to ICT specialists and the 2030 Digital Decade target of getting to 20 million ICT specialists in Europe. Examine where Europe stands in attracting and retaining ICT specialists. Are we likely to reach the Digital Decade target on advanced digital skills and number of employed IT experts by 2030? 

2. In the second part, an open panel discussion will see experts dive into what different sectors are already doing to help improve ICT knowledge amongst the labour force. Dive into the challenges, their impact on economic sectors, and what more can be done.

3. The second part will be an open panel discussion with experts, focusing on what different sectors are already doing to contribute to improving ICT skills, what are the challenges, and what more can be done. 

Agenda 

• 10:00 – 10:10 – Setting the scene – ICT Skills in the 2023 Report on the ‘State of the Digital Decade’ 
  Speaker: Eric PETERS, Acting Head of Unit, Digital Decade Coordination, DG CONNECT 
• 10:10 – 10:25 – What is the EU doing to improve advanced digital skills? 
  Speaker: Rehana SCHWINNINGER-LADAK, Head of Unit for Interactive Technologies, Digital for Culture and Education, DG CONNECT 
• 10:25 – 11:30 – Panel discussion 
  -    Moderator: Brendan Rowan, Managing Consultant at BluSpecs 
  Speakers:
  • Justina Bieliauskaite, Innovation Director, European DIGITAL SME Alliance 
  • Madhumalti Sharma, Entrepreneur & tech educator, EU Code Week Ambassador, EU Robotics National Coordinator 
  • Marc Durando, Executive Director of EUN, European Schoolnet network 
  • Martin Hayes, Professor of Digital Technologies at the University of Limerick & lead author of the “Deans report” on How do we reach the target of 20 million ICT professionals by 2030
  • Mylène Richard, Director of Campus Région du Numérique Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region 
  • Representative from the Belgian Presidency of the Council (speaker TBC)
• 11:30 – 11:50 – Q&A with online participants
• 11:50 – 12:00 – Conclusion - Rehana SCHWINNINGER-LADAK, Head of Unit for Interactive Technologies, Digital for Culture and Education, DG CONNECT 

Register here!

Check the full agenda and join the European Commission's event.

About Connect University

CONNECT University is the knowledge-sharing flagship initiative of the European Commission’s Directorate General on Communication Networks, Content and Technologies (DG Connect) that aims to inform the EU staff and the general public about the latest digital trends and challenges which are highly linked with EU's relevant policies.