Participation of MDIA in School Summer: Strengthening Digital Skills Before EU Code Week

Skola Summer is Malta’s national summer programme that offers children a wide mix of cultural, artistic, physical and educational activities. Through thematic sessions, practical releases and experiences, it provides a safe and interesting environment where children can learn, explore new interests, build confidence and develop teamwork skills.

Every year, Skola Summer brings together hundreds of children across Malta and Gozo for a programme centred on creativity and discovery. In recent years, the Malta Digital Innovation Authority (MDIA) has become a key contributor to this initiative, ensuring that digital literacy is an integral part of the learning experience offered to young participants. The involvement of MDIA not only supports the educational mission of Schoolsummer but also closely aligns with Malta’s participation in the EU Code Week; the Europe-wide campaign promoting coding, computational thinking, and digital creativity among learners of all ages.

This year, MDIA delivered daily sessions in 30 School Summer centres, offering children two one-hour sessions focused on robotics, unplugged coding, or introductory AI concepts. These sessions provided practical and age-appropriate exposure to digital skills, helping children understand technology through play, experimentation, and problem-solving – exactly the type of early engagement that builds lasting confidence with digital tools.

A summer school offers an ideal environment for this type of learning. Its non-formal structure means that children engage with technology in a relaxed and pleasant way rather than in a class context, making concepts more accessible and the experience more memorable. The contribution of MDIA reinforces this by introducing activities that stimulate curiosity and encourage logical thinking, which is the main foundations for computational thinking and, at a later stage, for codification.

Through its collaboration with the Foundation for Educational Services (FES), MDIA ensures that all digital skills activities are delivered responsibly, safely, and in an environment that families already trust.

Connection with EU Code Week

The EU Code Week, which takes place every October, aims to make digital coding and creation accessible to all, in particular young students. Malta’s commitment in the initiative reflects a national commitment that extends well beyond the school year. The participation of MDIA in a School Summer complements this mission in several important ways.

Early exposure gives children their first encounter with digital concepts in a gaming and low-pressure environment, and prepares them for more structured coding activities when the Code Week arrives in October. A wide range ensures that with centres spread across Malta and Gozo, these digital skills initiatives reach children from diverse backgrounds, in full consistency with the EU Code Week's focus on inclusiveness and equal access. Thematic alignment through annual themes such as Reach for the Stars encourages exploration and creativity, values that strongly resonate with the Code Week’s vision of empowering young people to create with technology rather than just consuming it.

Building Momentum Towards EU Code Week in Malta

Children who spend time with a programmable robot or take part in a wireless coding challenge during July return to the new school year with something valuable: practical experience. Digital skills no longer feel abstract or unfamiliar; become tangible, interesting, and easier to understand.

This continuity of participation contributes to Malta’s national efforts to strengthen engagement with the EU Code Week, while strengthening the role of MDIA in promoting responsible digital innovation across the education sector.

MDIA’s work through School Summer forms part of a broader portfolio of digital education initiatives, including Tech Whiz Kids, Gozo Tech Whiz, and summer bootcamps and summer schools carried out in collaboration with the University of Malta and MCAST. While each initiative has its own focus, they share a common objective: to help young people become confident, capable and curious users and tech creators.

As Malta continues to strengthen its participation in the EU Code Week, the work of MDIA in summer programmes remains an important part of this broader effort. It shows how national institutions and educational partners can work together to build a digitally empowered society starting with its youngest students.

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