Digital education & training

Speakers
Marie Boscher, Policy Officer – Social Economy – DG GROW, European Commission
Sofia Breitholtz, CEO – Reach for Change
Nina Cvar, Researcher – Faculty of Electrical Engineering, University of Ljubljana
Xabi Ugarte, Head of Digital Education – Politeknika Txorierri & Member of DLEARN
James Churchill, Board Member – EASPD
Konstantina Leventi, Coordinator of the B-Wise project – EASPD
Zuzana Dutkova, Policy Officer – Social Economy – DG GROW, European Commission

Description
This session will be an integral part of a series of expert Pact for Skills round-tables and workshops to be organised in the run-up to the official joining of the Pact by the Proximity and Social Economy ecosystem in the first half of 2021. Digital skills[1] are critical for jobs and social inclusion and the COVID-19 crisis has further moved digital skills from ‘optional’ to ‘critical’. Digital skills are required for all types of jobs[2] and need to be complemented with transversal ‘soft skills’ such as the ability to communicate effectively in both online and offline mediums.

The session will first aim to identify challenges faced by the Proximity and social economy ecosystem in terms of digital skills, taking into account the large disruptions created by the COVID-19 crisis. Participants will share and provide their experience on concrete upskilling and reskilling activities they have implemented. Their input will cast light in particular on:

·       The reasons of the identification of the target groups;

·       The type of digital skills and training activities they have focused on and the methodology used;

·       Challenges and difficulties met during the implementation of the training activities and how they overcame them;

·       The extent to which and how the COVID-19 has prompted them to adapt their activities or agenda;

·       Potential KPIs for digital skills activities.

Based on these individual experiences, the interactive discussion will then focus on the identification of the challenges faced by the Proximity and Social Economy Ecosystem regarding digital skills and the possible measures to do so measures that can be implemented to address these challenges under the Pact for Skills. Participants will also reflect on how to boost skills investment via the National Recovery and Resilience Plans/Recovery and Resilience Facility and ensure recovery takes place for, by and with Social Economy, for an economy that works for people.