The Digital Libraries (DigLib) project has published their first major report: „Digital libraries for inclusive learning: A cross-national study on skills, practices, and innovation„. This open-access research report presents the findings of the DigLib project’s research activities which explore how librarians are engaging with digital education – and where they need more support.

About DigLib 

‘Digital Libraries’ (DigLib) is an Erasmus+ project running from 2025-2027, which will harness the potential of public libraries as inclusive community hubs for lifelong learning. The project brings together five partners across four EU countries: FRSI (Poland), PL2030 (Belgium), EOS (Romania), CSBNO (Italy), and Dot Beyond (Italy). 

The role and services of the library continues to evolve and expand alongside rapid societal digital transformation. Over the next three years, the consortium will leverage the power of non-formal education to provide librarians with the skills to adapt to these challenges, empowering them to develop solutions which promote inclusivity, education, and social cohesion.

By mapping digital skills, delivering capacity-building programmes, and creating a dynamic digital education environment, DigLib fosters social inclusion and equips librarians to bridge the digital divide.

Research activities

FRSI (Poland), PL2030 (Belgium), EOS (Romania), CSBNO (Italy) contributed to the collection and analysis of data in their respective countries. This robust research framework that combines quantitative and qualitative methodologies included: 

• A cross-national digital skills audit survey completed by 270 public library staff across Italy, Poland, Romania, and Flanders;
• Desk research reviewing academic and non-academic training opportunities, national library landscapes, and relevant European initiatives;
• Expert interviews with 12 professionals across the four countries;
• Four national advisory boards providing feedback and consultation via focus groups; 

The report also includes a collection of 15 case studies illustrating innovative practices from within and beyond the partner countries.

Findings and recommendations

The research findings highlight a shared recognition among all participating countries of the critical role libraries play in promoting digital inclusion and education, particularly for adults at risk of digital exclusion. While many public libraries demonstrate strong motivation and foundational skills, the study reveals a shared need for advanced digital competencies, pedagogical training, and access to emerging technologies like AI, VR, and data tools. This research serves as the foundation for the design of DigLib’s training methodology and immersive learning platform, and provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolving role of public libraries in a digital society.

Importantly, the report doesn’t just identify gaps – it provides a roadmap. Key recommendations include creating hands-on, modular training programmes tailored to national contexts, empowering librarians to become digital facilitators and community educators. Special attention is also given to helping underserved groups such as older adults, migrants, youth, and job seekers access the skills they need to thrive in a digital society.

Whether you’re a librarian, adult educator, policymaker, or digital inclusion advocate, this report serves as a resource to inform sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready library services.

The DigLib research report is available to download on the project website. 

The Cybersecurity Skills Strategy developed by CyberHub Slovenia focuses on bridging skills gaps, enhancing education, and fostering workforce preparedness to address evolving cyber threats. By strengthening collaboration between academia, government, and industry, the strategy is a digital skills resource that aims to establish a sustainable cybersecurity ecosystem that safeguards critical infrastructure and aligns with Slovenia’s digital transformation goals.

The strategy targets a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including students, cybersecurity professionals, and employees across both public and private sectors. Its innovative approach is characterized by integrating local stakeholder engagement with broader EU policy alignment, notably through Slovenia’s active participation in the CyberHubs project, a pan-European initiative designed to strengthen the cybersecurity professional skills ecosystem.

Slovenia’s strategic pillars for strengthening cybersecurity

This resource is created upon several interconnected pillars designed to foster a resilient and skilled cybersecurity ecosystem:

• Integrating Cybersecurity Education at All Levels: The strategy emphasizes embedding cybersecurity education across the entire educational spectrum, from early schooling to advanced professional certifications. This holistic approach ensures a pipeline of talent from a young age and continuous upskilling throughout careers.
• Expanding Training Programmes for Comprehensive Skill Development: The strategy advocates for expanding training programs that address both technical prowess and crucial non-technical skills. This includes problem-solving, analytical thinking, communication, and teamwork – qualities increasingly vital in complex cyber operations.
• Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships: A cornerstone of the strategy is fostering stronger collaborations between the public and private sectors. This ensures that training and educational initiatives are directly aligned with the current and future needs of the industry.
• Promoting Public Awareness: By educating citizens and organizations on best practices and threat landscapes, Slovenia aims to cultivate a culture of cybersecurity readiness.

Download the full report and explore key insights into Slovenia’s Cybersecurity Skills Strategy development, findings, and planned actions.

About the CyberHubs project

The European Network of Cybersecurity Skills Hubs (CyberHubs) is a 3-year initiative joining forces to enhance the cybersecurity professional skills ecosystem in Europe. CyberHubs will establish a sustainable network of seven Cybersecurity Skills Hubs in Belgium, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovenia, and Spain. These hubs will promote the development of professional skills in cybersecurity and support the development of a skilled cybersecurity workforce in the short, medium and long term. Funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ programme, the CyberHubs project involves 21 full partners and 3 associated partners.

The AgileEDU project is a three-year initiative (2023–2026) coordinated by European Schoolnet and with partners from the University College Copenhagen (Denmark), University of Oslo (Norway), Portuguese Ministry of Education (Portugal), Foundation Empieza por Educar (Spain), and the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (Sweden); with the French and Slovenian Ministries of Education are associated partners.

It aims to address the challenges and opportunities presented by the growing use of digital tools in education—an acceleration largely driven by the Covid-19 pandemic. The project focuses on critical issues such as the pedagogical use of learning data, data protection, equity in access to digital tools, ethical considerations, and the governance of educational data.

Through two main strands—research and stakeholder engagement – AgileEDU explores how digitalisation can support high-quality, inclusive education aligned with the EU Digital Education Action Plan 2021–2027. It combines case studies and practitioner learning stories with structured stakeholder dialogue events („Dialogue Labs“) involving teachers, policymakers, students, parents, and EdTech providers. Key project outputs include practical resources such as professional development materials for teachers, a MOOC, and policy recommendations to guide the ethical and effective use of data in education.

Podcast Episode 9: Playful Learning for Digital Skills and Student Wellbeing

As digitalisation rapidly reshapes the education landscape, schools face increasing challenges related to student engagement, screen time, and wellbeing. In this podcast episode published as part of the AgileEDU project, Vibeke Schrøder and Niels-Peder Osmundsen Hjøllund from University College Copenhagen delve into how playful learning can offer a more balanced, human-centred approach to digital education – one that cultivates creativity, critical thinking, and responsible technology use.

Hjøllund, a senior consultant and researcher, and Schrøder, an assistant professor with expertise in inclusive digital learning environments, draw on their work in Denmark and within the EU-funded Agile EDU project. They explain how playful learning shifts the focus from simply using digital tools to understanding the broader implications of digital systems – a transition that Denmark has embraced through a national move from „digital literacy“ to „technology comprehension.“ This approach equips students not just with technical skills, but with the ability to think critically about algorithms, data, AI, and their impact on society.

One compelling classroom example shared in the episode involves Danish students exploring mobile phone use in schools. Instead of being passively told to reduce screen time, students tracked their own behaviours, analysed the data, and presented their findings – engaging in real-world data literacy and fostering a sense of ownership over their learning. This hands-on, playful approach proved to be not only more engaging, but also more impactful in developing both digital and social-emotional skills.

The episode also explores the challenges of implementing playful learning in traditional school settings. Shifting away from rigid, outcome-based teaching methods requires mindset changes, professional development, and institutional support. However, research findings from the Play@Heart project, in which Hjøllund was involved, suggest that even incremental steps toward playful learning can significantly improve student motivation and enhance the purposeful use of digital tools in the classroom.

As part of the Agile EDU project – coordinated by European Schoolnet with partners from across Europe – this work contributes to a broader effort to explore how digital education can remain inclusive, ethical, and high-quality. The project is producing a series of learning stories, case studies, and a teacher training MOOC (launching in April 2025) to support this goal. One of the upcoming case studies will explore in detail the role of playful learning in fostering digital and data literacy.

This episode is a valuable resource for educators, school leaders, and policymakers interested in rethinking how digital skills are taught—not just by adding more technology, but by engaging students in playful, meaningful, and critically reflective learning experiences.