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Inspiration

Are you an individual, an organisation, a policymaker, or a training provider?
Are you looking for inspiration for boosting digital transformation?
We are here to support you in defining your path to digital transformation by providing inspirational information on good practices, resources, and research from across the country and Europe.

Let’s find out more!

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FREE TRAINING with digital competence vouchers

By Bulgaria, Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, National good practice initiative, Public, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
FREE TRAINING with digital competence vouchers

10.09.2024

The digital competence voucher trainings offered by RAABE Bulgaria are free courses funded by the Human Resources Development Programme 2021-2027. They are aimed at employees wishing to acquire or improve their digital skills at basic, intermediate and advanced level, according to the European Digital Competence Framework DigComp 2.1. The trainings are conducted remotely in a videoconferencing environment with a leading lecturer and include access to learning materials via an online platform. Upon successful completion and passing an exam, participants receive a certificate for the acquired level of competence.

 

Your new opportunity to acquire and improve your digital skills at basic, intermediate and advanced levels of digital competence in line with the European Framework – DigComp 2.1 levels 1-2 and 3-4.

 

What is the focus of the programme?

The main focus of the training is to acquire the basic knowledge, skills and attitudes to use digital technologies, build basic digital competences and apply them in different subject areas. The topics in the additional module are aimed at building skills for using basic public digital services in the Republic of Bulgaria.

What is the format of the RAABE trainings?

RAABE offers distance learning in a videoconferencing environment with a leading speaker – an expert in the field. Participants will also be able to prepare independently with unlimited access to the training materials on our platform https://raabeonline.com

What is the duration of the training?

For General Digital Skills (Levels 1 and 2 of DigComp 2.1.), 45 training hours are provided. The additional training module for Public Digital Services is 10 training hours. In total for the basic level – 55 training hours spread over several days according to a pre-announced schedule.

 

How does the training end?

Participants of the training take a final exam, which is conducted electronically in the electronic certification module of the Single Certification Center. Anyone who has attended a minimum of 80% of the scheduled hours is eligible to take the exam. A trainee may take the exam no more than twice.

Upon successful completion of the exam, the learner receives a Certificate of Competence in accordance with the European Digital Competence Framework DigComp 2.1.

Details

Website

www.raabe.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital technology

Digital Skills

Level

Basic

Middle

Advanced

Funding of the good practice

Public

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Bulgaria

Organisation providing the good practice

РААБЕ

19.11.2024

Design WeekEnd

By Bulgaria, Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, National good practice initiative, Private, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
Design WeekEnd

27.09.2024

The Story of Design WeekEnd

We are a small team of volunteers, and every bit of support is crucial for us. If you resonate with our cause and would like to support it, feel free to reach out so we can discuss how.

Nearly 10 years ago (yes, 10 — we’re surprised too), we launched Design WeekEnd with a small design conference in Sevlievo. Since then, we’ve been creating and participating in various design events across Bulgaria, developed three unique formats, relocated to Plovdiv, built meaningful relationships and lasting connections, weathered a pandemic, and emerged stronger afterward. Today, we continue to create with the same childlike enthusiasm, albeit a bit more grown-up.

Over the years, we’ve been fortunate to work with incredible people—as part of our team, as speakers, or as mentors.

Learn more about our story HERE.

 

Design WeekEnd

What is it?

Design WeekEnd is a three-day design competition aimed at high school and university students. It includes an introductory evening with a discussion panel, lectures by professional mentors in the field of design, and 26 hours of teamwork to build a brand from scratch. Whether your strength lies in Web, Print, or Motion, you and your team will have the chance to create something amazing.

When and Where?

Design WeekEnd 2024 will take place from November 22–24 in Plovdiv. For the second consecutive year, the event will be hosted by the Technical University of Sofia, Plovdiv branch.

What to Expect:

→ An opportunity to showcase your design skills
→ Exciting challenges and real-world design tasks
→ Guidance from industry experts
→ Prizes for the most accomplished brand presentation

Additional details about this year’s program and the speaker lineup can be found HERE.

Details

Website

 

www.designweekend.co

 

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Digital Skills

Web Development

Level

Basic

Middle

Advanced

Funding of the good practice

Private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Bulgaria

Organisation providing the good practice

Design WeekEnd

18.11.2024

The Panhellenic School Network in Greece

By Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION, INSPIRATION: Good practices, National good practice initiative, Other, Public, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
The Panhellenic School Network in Greece

27.08.2024

The Panhellenic School Network is the national online infrastructure for the provision of internet and communication services to the educational community of Greece. The DCF is the official national network and internet service provider for all educational and administrative units under the authority of the Greek Ministry of Education, Religious Affairs and Sport, including foreign units.

It has been developed to provide high-quality technology services to all schools, teachers and students, connecting the educational community electronically and securely and meeting the needs of the modern educational process through access to digital tools and services that facilitate teaching and learning. It provides a variety of services, such as internet access, web hosting, e-learning platforms, collaboration tools and digital support, thus enhancing the educational process and facilitating communication between teachers, students and parents. At the same time, the information provided through its services is reliable and verifiable, while there is constant updating and upgrading of services based on the needs of users.

Today, the Panhellenic School Network interconnects a total of 16,221 units, of which 14,504 are schools (public and private) of Primary, Secondary and Post-Secondary Education, 151 administrative units of Primary and Secondary Education and 1,013 other structures, such as the General State Archives, Environmental Education Centres and other support structures.

Summary of the services provided by the Panhellenic School Network
  1. Internet and Networking Services
    • Connection to the DCF: It provides broadband internet access for school units and administrative services.
    • Secure Internet access: Ensuring safe navigation and information for the safe use of the internet.
    • Hosting of websites: Hosting and managing websites and domain names for schools, with Web Analytics services.
  2. Management, certification and user support
    • Create and manage accounts for schools, teachers and students, with access retrieval support.
    • Provision of assistance and information through the central DCF portal and the Help-Desk service
  3. Communication and Cooperation
    • Providing platforms for communities, blogs, school magazines and file sharing.
    • Providing email accounts, collaboration tools and managing email lists.
    • eLearning Services: Support videoconferencing, e-teaching, and hands-on teacher training.
    • Multimedia services: Creation and management of multimedia material, live broadcasts and presentations.
  4. Support services: User identity management, provision of digital certificates and technical support through remote access.
The Panhellenic School Network in numbers

The DCF currently serves over 1,318,107 people with personalized access, including:

  • 137,640 practicing teachers
  • More than 1,000,000 students of Primary and Secondary Education
  • 4,193 administrative staff
  • 50 779 inactive teachers, such as retired and former teachers

The infrastructure of the DCF shall serve in particular:

  • 9,298 public primary schools
  • 1,012 private primary schools
  • 3,673 public secondary schools
  • 248 private secondary schools
  • 273 units of Post-Secondary Education
  • 58 administrative units of Primary Education
  • 60 administrative units of Secondary Education
  • 14 Regional Education Directorates
  • 288 support structures
  • 725 other structures, such as GBER, RCO, OEM, etc.

The total accounts in the DCF amount to 1 346 450 . Of these, 28,343 accounts are used for the needs of the units, while 1,318,107 are personal accounts for teachers, pupils, administrative staff and non-active teachers. (Statistics update: 12/08/2024 ).

Internet security priority

The Panhellenic School Network (PSD) undertakes a series of actions and initiatives to promote a creative and safe internet for the educational community in Greece. These actions aim to enhance digital literacy, safety and responsible use of the internet by students, teachers and parents. Actions and initiatives include educational initiatives on digital security, awareness-raising campaigns, the creation and distribution of educational material, support for the creative use of digital technologies, etc. Indicative actions include:

  • 1999: The online content moderation service has been launched, which is constantly being upgraded to ensure safe browsing for students.
  • 2009: Creation of the “Internet Safety” information hub to provide educational material and information to teachers, pupils and parents.
  • 2011: The provision of webinars through the “Digital Security” section of eTwinning begins, with the aim of supporting schools to use the internet safely.
  • 2014: Participation in the Web WeWant initiative, by adapting the Greek version of the book for high school students, encouraging the development of critical thinking and exploring online rights.
  • 2017: Organise eTwinning online courses, such as the “Creative and Safe Internet”, and participate in the conference “Learning to Think in a Digital Society” with the participation of teachers from the EU.
Integrated actions
  1. eSafety Label+: Become the next eSafety Champion (2017-2019): As a coordinating partner under Erasmus+ (KA2), the DCF has helped promote the exchange of knowledge and best practices on digital security in schools. A total of 341 Greek schools received the digital security label.
  2. EduWeb (2016-2018): The aim of the project was to strengthen cooperation in the fight against digital exclusion of adults, with students acting as educators of their digitally illiterate family members.
  3. Connecting with Prudence (2015-2016): In collaboration with Safer Internet, this action trained 38,319 students and 318 teachers in the correct and creative use of the Internet.
  4. School Violence and Bullying Prevention and Response Network (2014-2015): Around 16,000 teachers were trained to deal with school violence, including cyberbullying.
  5. Call a Safer Internet Expert (2015): Action that enabled schools to call experts to inform and educate the school community about safe use of the internet.
  6. SUPPORT (2012-2015): Training of more than 2,500 IT teachers for the safe and creative use of the internet through the SUPPORT project in the framework of the NSRF 2007-2013.
Why is it good practice?

The DCF is a particularly successful and well-established good practice in the field of digital education in Greece, and this can be documented in several ways:

  1. Broad Dissemination and Coverage: With a service of 16,221 credits and personalized access for over 1.3 million users, the GDS has managed to cover almost the entire educational community in Greece.
  2. Support for distance learning: The DCF provides critical e-learning services that have become an integral part of daily education. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, these services proved their value, ensuring the continuity of the educational process.
  3. Reduction of Inequalities: The impact of the GDS is extensive, as it offers digital infrastructure to the whole educational community. It has facilitated access to educational material, cooperation between teachers and the participation of students in digital programmes. It has also contributed to reducing inequalities in access to educational resources.
  4. Security and Data Protection: By managing more than 10,000,000 malware attacks and implementing strict security protocols, the DCF ensures data security and the protection of its users.
  5. Sustainability and Growth: The DCF is financed by national and European funds, which ensures its sustainability and development. The continuous upgrade of its services and its flexibility to adapt to new technological requirements prove its long-term success.
  6. Promoting Digital Governance: Through its eGovernment services, the DCF promotes transparency and efficient administration, facilitating interaction between educational institutions and the Ministry.

The Panhellenic School Network is a model of digital infrastructure for education, offering reliable and secure services to hundreds of thousands of users across the country. With its constant presence and continuous development, the DCF is a living example of good practice that can be a guide for other countries or educational organisations wishing to develop similar initiatives. The success of the DCF is due to the integration of modern technological solutions, data security and the continuous support of its users.

Details

Website

Panhellenic School Network

 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills

Level

Basic

Middle

Advanced

Funding of the good practice

Public

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

Organisation providing the good practice

Panhellenic School Network

Start date

3 September 2012

End date

4 September 2034

15.10.2024

Bulgaria: HackTues

By Bulgaria, Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, Local good practice initiative, Public, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
Bulgaria: HackTues

25.09.2024

Hack TUES is one of the key events for TUES in which students from the school in teams of 3-5 participants create from scratch their own IT project on a given topic within two days and then present it to a professional jury of teachers and IT specialists.

The hackathon gives participants the opportunity to improve their programming skills, teamwork and presentation of the finished project. They work under the mentorship of professionals from the IT business, and sometimes these acquaintanceships grow into offers of practice and internship. The organizers, in turn, learn a lot about the process of organizing such an event and strongly develop their soft skills. By interacting with the sponsors, jury, mentors and volunteers, they develop a clear picture of the real working environment.

This is the first hackathon in Bulgaria organized by students for students. The event started in 2015 and has had nine editions so far. Every year Hack TUES is organized by an organizing team of 11th grade students who work on the event under the mentorship of ASTUES.

Consideration of the main problems of society
The event is also very special for the participants.Because they know each other, they strive to succeed and make it to the finish line. The theme of the hackathon changes every year and is related to the major issues facing society. The last two editions were dedicated to aerospace and environmental problems, respectively, and participants proposed innovative solutions to these problems. these included educational games, embedded systems for collecting samples or cleaning up trash, and machine learning (ML) solutions that help analyze the probability of a successful landing of an aircraft.
Hack TUES at UNESCO
Hack TUES, the iconic hackathon organised by students for students, has found its place among UNESCO’s innovative and promising practices for Technical and Vocational Education and Training. This makes Hack TUES the only educational practice in Bulgaria to be included in this global initiative.

Read the incredible story of its latest edition with a Security theme here.
Upcoming editions and further information can be found at https://hacktues.bg/

Details

Website

www.hacktues.bg

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Digital skills

Software Engineering

Level

Basic

Middle

Advanced

Funding of the good practice

Public

 

Type of initiative of the good practice

Local initiative

Country providing the good practice

Bulgaria

Organisation providing the good practice

TU-SOFIA

01.10.2024

Initiative: Pioneers for Artificial Intelligence

By Country of the initiative, Country providing the good practice, EU Initiatives, EU institutional good practice initiative, EU Institutional initiative, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, INSPIRATION: Initiatives, Other, Other, Public-private, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
Initiative: Pioneers for Artificial Intelligence

27.08.2024

The “Innovators for Artificial Intelligence (AI)” initiative is implemented by the non-profit organisation Science For You – SciFY and the ahedd Digital Innovation Hub of the National Centre for Natural Sciences (NCSR) “Demokritos”, with the support of the US Embassy in Athens and the John S. Latsis Public Benefit Foundation, and aims to train 1,000 Pioneers in Artificial Intelligence in Greece.

Purpose of the Initiative

The main goal of this initiative is to create an active community of 1,000 Pioneers in Greece who will know and can co-shape human-centric Artificial Intelligence (AI), leverage Artificial Intelligence to innovate and shape a better future for all.

The trained community of 1,000 will be composed of members of all professional categories such as:

  • entrepreneurs, high-level private business executives, IT executives
  • policy makers, politicians, Think Tanks, high-level ministries
  • NGO executives, social business executives
  • IT executives, IT students, tech workers, science researchers
  • Social/Political Scientists
  • involved in education (Gymnasium/Lyceum, Business, IT, Political Science, Social Sciences)

This community will be trained through an innovative program and will be networked and stimulated to be able to mobilize forces and collaborations in key sectors of the economy and society utilizing the latest technological developments.

The project includes

  • the training of 1,000 pioneers,
  • the website “AI in Greece“, which will be the central point of reference. It will inform about the developments, about the achievements of the 1,000 Pioneers for AI in Greece, will include articles on AI, educational content, etc.
  • the creation of a supportive community of researchers, experts, consultants, etc. (from Greece and abroad) who will have knowledge, motivation and the ability to contribute with their knowledge and support services. This enhances the sustainability of the project,
  • a networking and exchange platform of 1,000.

Training of the 1,000 frontrunners of the initiative

The training will combine theory and encouragement in practical application. It will be specifically designed for each different target group, and will include:

  • theoretical education (training, attending seminars, buying/offering a book),
  • action: organisation of at least one action on their own initiative, or participation in at least one initiative of another party (e.g. participation in a consultation).

The training will be completed in 3 years, with the aim of training 200 people in the first year, 300 in the second, and 500 in the third.

What is the expected impact?

The ultimate goal is to co-shape and leverage AI to increase impact primarily in the following areas:

  • the daily lives of citizens: understanding how AI works, avoiding undue fear of fake news, participating in consultations on AI,
  • the economy: taking entrepreneurial initiatives, creating new services, increasing innovation, creating competitive advantages,
  • AI policy making: raising awareness of AI issues, helping to create an appropriate regulatory framework, protecting citizens’ rights, fostering AI-enabled entrepreneurship,
  • impact of civil society action: leveraging AI tools to strengthen democracy, pluralism and more effective protection of citizens’ rights;
  • preparing young scientists to make use of AI, regardless of their field of knowledge;
  • strengthening the tools and role of Digital Humanities;
  • better formulation and more effective implementation of the ongoing National Strategy on AI

Why is it a good practice?

AI is already changing our present and future with applications in all areas of our lives. AI skills and knowledge significantly influence the demand for relevant professionals, while companies that make effective use of AI can innovate and grow through appropriate training. At the same time, proper understanding and knowledge of AI can mitigate both the risks and the unpredictable conditions created by this new technology.

New practices for the development of ethical AI systems also require the development of digital skills for human resources and there is a strong need to shape AI in a human-centric and ethical way. SciFY has trained more than 1,500 people to date in AI, participates in the DIGITAL SME Focus Group on AI, the European Commission initiative (AI Watch) and the European DIGITAL SME Alliance consisting of almost 40 AI experts representing companies from all over Europe.

Details

Website

https://ai-in-greece.scify.org/1000-pioneers-for-ai-in-greece-page/

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)

Level

Basic

Middle

Funding of the good practice

Public-private

Type of initiative of the good practice

EU institutional initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

Organisation providing the good practice

Pioneers for Artificial Intelligence

27.08.2024

SchuBu Systems: An Online Learning Platform for Secondary School Students

By Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION, INSPIRATION: Good practices, National good practice initiative, Other, Private, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
SchuBu Systems: An Online Learning Platform for Secondary School Students

07.08.2024

SchuBu is a teaching and learning platform designed to help secondary school students acquire digital skills.

SchuBu Systems: Online Textbook for Digital Education

The SchuBu project, developed by SchuBu Systems GmbH, offers curriculum-aligned digital textbooks for free and serves as a comprehensive teaching and learning platform. The digital education section provides interactive and age-appropriate content on topics such as artificial intelligence, media literacy, and data management for secondary school students.

SchuBu: Digital Education

In the “Digital Education” section, SchuBu follows the Austrian curriculum for the corresponding subject and is specifically designed for classroom use. The digital textbooks cover the material for an entire school year, presented in illustrated learning pathways with numerous exercises. These resources can be used as standalone textbooks or as interactive supplements to existing books.

Background and Objectives

The SchuBu project was initiated with the goal of engaging students in learning through motivating tasks. The wide range of resources, including exercises, interactive elements, games, and animations, allows students to delve deeply into curriculum topics and explore connections on their own. This approach enhances intrinsic motivation and contributes to lasting learning success.

A Resource for Teachers as Well

SchuBu also offers many useful tools for teachers to make their lessons more engaging and interactive. SchuBu+ is a paid extension that provides materials specifically designed for classroom use, including online assignments with automatic grading, ready-to-use presentations, worksheets with answers, and practical teaching tools. SchuBu+ also offers detailed additional information tailored for teachers, such as learning objectives, a competency model, and comprehensive curriculum references, all of which can aid in lesson planning.

Content for Digital Education

Currently, SchuBu offers digital education content for the fifth, sixth, and seventh grades, with materials for the eighth grade expected in fall 2024. The textbooks cover various aspects of the digital world, including topics like the internet, artificial intelligence, and disinformation. Students develop an understanding of digital tools, creative online collaboration, and the ethics and privacy concerns of the digital realm.

Didactic Structure

The SchuBu learning packages are designed in three stages. To convey the content, there are presentations with animated slides, which can also be used in flipped-classroom settings. Understanding and independent learning are supported through simulations, games, and interactive content. Finally, students have various opportunities to practice and reinforce the material.

Terms of Use

The digital textbooks from SchuBu Systems are not openly licensed, but the basic content, including learning pathways and exercises, is accessible for free without a login. Premium content is clearly marked and requires registration. SchuBu may not be used for commercial purposes.

What makes “SchuBu Digital Education” a Good Practice?

The focus on interactivity and gamification in SchuBu’s learning packages creates motivating learning experiences for students. The content is developed by educators with extensive practical experience and integrates seamlessly into classroom instruction. It is compatible with all digital devices with internet access, ad-free, and GDPR-compliant. The project has been recognized by the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research with the Learning Apps Quality Seal and has received the State Prize for Digitalization in the category “Digital Competencies, Education, and Training.” Additionally, the online portal eLearning Journal awarded SchuBu the 2022 eLearning Award in the “School” category.

Details

Website

SchuBu Systems

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills

Level

Basic

Funding of the good practice

Private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Austria

Organisation providing the good practice

SchuBu Systems

26.08.2024

Career guidance for young people through virtual company tours

By Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION, INSPIRATION: Good practices, National good practice initiative, Public-private, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
Career guidance for young people through virtual company tours

22.08.2024

Among other things, the digital transformation has changed the way information is communicated. This also applies to information about professions and companies. The Biwi – Virtual Company Tour project also makes use of this. 

Getting to know professions virtually

With the help of virtual reality glasses (VR glasses), young people can immerse themselves more intensively than before in a wide range of professions. They can explore training companies in 360-degree mode and experience the respective occupational field in a realistic 3D video format. The information is provided by peers who are currently undergoing training or an apprenticeship at the company in question. 

The VR glasses required for this are available in the WKO career information centers and the Berufsinformationszentrum der Wiener Wirtschaft (BiWi), for example. They are mainly used for career and apprenticeship counseling.

Visit companies from home

The virtual company tours are not only possible in the centers equipped for this purpose, but also from home. With the help of a special web application, the companies can be explored via computer or notebook. The app is freely accessible and the interface can be navigated using a mouse. A smartphone or tablet can also be used as a “window” into the virtual world of apprenticeships. The gyroscope function enables 360° rotation and free orientation within the virtual environment.

Young people currently have access to just under 80 professions they can experience, and the range is constantly being expanded. Information is currently available on professions in the fields of construction and trades; vehicles and machinery; physics, chemistry and planning; language and culture; health and social affairs; working in nature; food and hospitality; art, sport and beauty.

What makes BiWi virtual company tours a good practice?

The offer can be used on an individual and self-directed basis, but can also be used as part of career guidance courses or in a school context. In this way, young people can decide for themselves whether the respective occupational field appears interesting to them – and they also come into contact with career opportunities that may have been previously unknown. 

On the one hand, using this service increases the digital skills of the people who create the respective content. On the other hand, it automatically leads to an increase in skills on the part of the users when they use this VR technology. The open and free use of the app promotes participation for all and is a good example of the inclusive potential of digital technologies

Details

Website

BiWi

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Virtual Reality

Level

Basic

Funding of the good practice

Public-private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Austria

Organisation providing the good practice

BiWi

26.08.2024

Digital Inclusion

By Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, National good practice initiative, Other, Private, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
Digital Inclusion

14.06.2024

Digital Inclusion, an initiative by Česko.Digital and Notum focuses on developing an educational platform to improve the digital skills of social workers in the Czech Republic. This platform aims to equip social workers with the necessary digital skills and knowledge to enhance their work and provide better digital support to their clients. Additionally, it serves as a resource for improving the digital skills of digitally excluded and vulnerable clients, who constitute 30% of the Czech population.

Why is this Initiative Necessary?

The rationale behind the Digital Inclusion project stems from unique research conducted by Česko.Digital, supported by numerous Czech NGOs, among digitally excluded or vulnerable populations in the Czech Republic. The research identified three main challenges these individuals face. Firstly, they are highly susceptible to digital fraud and scams and struggle to identify or mitigate them effectively. Secondly, they are often suspicious of and reluctant to interact with state institutions online, hindering the timely addressing of their needs. Additionally, professionals in social services, residential facilities, and other support roles often lack the digital skills to support these individuals effectively. Recognising these issues, intervention among social workers was identified as the most systematic and scalable solution. Social workers who have close contact with the digitally excluded and vulnerable have the potential to positively influence their digital skills and attitudes. By empowering social workers, the initiative aims to facilitate self-sufficiency, enabling digitally excluded and vulnerable people to navigate online services independently.

Current Impact

Since its inception, the Digital Inclusion project has made significant strides. Research has been conducted among digitally vulnerable and excluded populations, reaching 794 questionnaire responses and 61 in-depth interviews in collaboration with over 30 NGOs. The results were evaluated, three major problems were identified, and eight respondent profiles were created. The research findings have been published to raise awareness of digital exclusion in the Czech Republic, with a website launched on January 20, 2024, garnering 549 views, averaging three minutes per visit. Additionally, the findings have received media coverage and have been presented to the Digital Education Committee of the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport. The project is progressing through milestones such as establishing a brand and marketing strategy, developing the educational platform, and preparing platform content, with 30 lessons planned for the minimum viable product (MVP). The goal is to impact at least 10,000 beneficiaries, including social workers and their clients.

Why is it a Good Practice?

Digital Inclusion addresses the critical need for improving digital literacy among social workers and their clients. The initiative’s focus on empowering social workers is a strategic and scalable solution to the challenges faced by digitally excluded and vulnerable populations. The platform ensures practical and impactful training by providing short, relevant learning modules that address the specific questions and problems social workers face in their daily work. The collaborative approach in creating and updating content ensures that it remains fresh and relevant, fostering active participation from social workers. The project’s comprehensive research and engagement with multiple stakeholders, including NGOs and government bodies, demonstrate its commitment to understanding and addressing the needs of the target population. Recognised for its contribution to digital education, Digital Inclusion exemplifies effective intervention in improving digital literacy, fostering independence, and enhancing the overall well-being of digitally excluded and vulnerable individuals in the Czech Republic.

Details

Website

Digital Inclusion

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital technology

Digital skills

Level

Basic

Middle

Advanced

Funding of the good practice

Private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

23.08.2024

Digital Transformation of the Municipality of Ioannina: A Good Practice for Enhancing Digital Skills

By Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, National good practice initiative, Other, Public, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
Digital Transformation of the Municipality of Ioannina: A Good Practice for Enhancing Digital Skills

06.08.2024

In recent years, the Municipality of Ioannina has been pioneering in the field of digital transformation, carrying out a series of coordinated interventions, actions, choices and strategic planning. This comprehensive effort resulted in the formulation of a 10-year Digital Strategy, which is aligned with national and European directions, as well as with the needs of the local community. The Digital Strategy was conceived as a dynamic document, which is constantly updated through consultations with local stakeholders. It includes the vision, the guidelines for digital interventions, as well as a roadmap with concrete actions, which are adapted according to available resources and funding opportunities.

A key element of the new strategy is the transformation of municipal services to enhance the supply of user-friendly digital services that meet the needs of citizens and businesses. The ultimate goal is to use information and communication technologies as tools for modern governance and development, thus creating “Smart Ioannina”, a city ready for the future.

Implementation of the Four Pillars of Digital Skills & Jobs Platform

This initiative addresses directly the four pillars of the Digital Skills & Jobs Platform. It promotes digital skills for all citizens by offering free programs such as the Cisco Networking Academy to a wide range of citizens. It targets specific groups, such as older people over 65, helping them acquire basic digital skills. In addition, it integrates digital tools into the local economy, especially for businesses in the tourism sector, through initiatives such as “Grow Greece with Google”.

Targeting and Impact

This initiative is aimed at a wide range of users, including citizens, businesses and vulnerable groups, such as people with disabilities, single parents and the elderly. By providing comprehensive education and access to digital services, the Municipality ensures that these groups will not be left behind in the digital age. The effects are evident in improved services, faster response times and overall improved user experience. The focus on digital training and upskilling is also evident, with the aim of making the local workforce more competitive and better equipped for the demands of the digital economy.

Sustainability and Reproduction Ability

The digital transformation of the Municipality of Ioannina is an example of good practice in enhancing digital skills. The initiative is not only committed to equipping the target audience with relevant skills, but also provides a comprehensive and transparent framework that can inspire and guide similar projects across Europe. With a focus on integration, sustainability and innovation, it aspires to be a role model for other municipalities that want to embrace the digital future. It exploits the potential offered by digital technologies for the benefit of citizens and tourism development. For example, advanced digital tools such as a 3D optical scanner are used to preserve cultural heritage.

Information and visual material were collected from the website of the Municipality of Ioannina andNSRF 2021-2027

Details

Website

digital-skills-jobs.europa.eu

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Digital skills

Level

Basic

Middle

Advanced

Expert

Funding of the good practice

Public

 

Type of initiative of the good practice

Local initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

06.08.2024

The Future of Modern Education: MotiMore, an online educational platform

By Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, Local good practice initiative, Other, Private, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
The Future of Modern Education: MotiMore, an online educational platform

30.07.2024

MotiMore is an innovative online educational platform that aims to empower students and create a stress-free (more) school environment. The interface uses the method of gamification to make school learning more enjoyable and effective.

Addressing current trends and challenges in education

During the development of the platform, it was a priority to respond to the challenges of the current education system, such as the lack of motivation of students, the often unfairness of assessment, the changed frustration tolerance and anxiety of the current generation. MotiMore also aims to provide educators with an assessment and learning organisation tool that will enable them to develop 21st century skills that are essential today (time management, self-study, collaboration, critical thinking, responsibility).

MotiMore can help teachers a lot in teaching and organizing learning: it provides the opportunity to plan interactive learning periods (which can be integrated into both ‘general’ and project teaching), define learning objectives and assign various creative tasks and activities to students. One of the main elements of the platform is the group leaderboard, which visually tracks students’ progress, thus increasing their motivation. Students collect points during the completion of the tasks, on the basis of which rankings are built. All ages are welcome to use the MotiMore system from junior to high school students.

At MotiMore, special attention is paid to ensuring that disadvantaged students also benefit from motivating and supportive educational experiences. To this end, institutions educating disadvantaged students can apply for free use of the MotiMore software under the ProBono support program.

An emphasis on user-friendliness

The platform is very simple to use: teachers can register for free on the site, create their groups, invite their students and start planning learning periods. The MotiMore team has also prepared a user manual that shows the use of the interface step by step in 7 short videos, from registration to leaderboard management. This series of videos allow anyone to use the interface without any problems at any time.

The platform will remain free of charge for the teacher at all times, but after 1 month, certain services (such as fast and group scoring) are only allowed for students who have a paid student license. The price of student licenses is favorable: It is around 1 EUR/month, but the company regularly offers 50-60% discounts.

Why is MotiMore a good practice?

MotiMore’s goal is not just to be an educational technology development, but to actively contribute to the pedagogical paradigm shift. The entire interface was created under this aegis, and for this purpose the MotiMore team often delivers lectures, webinars and longer, paid seminars.

The software has been used by more than 700 teachers, 5000 registered students and 10 partner schools. Teacher feedback can be summarised as follows: “Students are much more motivated and feel that the learning path is more their own. We value the process of learning, not the knowledge of the moment. They can finally show off their creativity and individuality in the tasks they can choose, creating amazing jobs.”

The interface is currently available in Hungarian, Romanian, Slovak, English, Greek and Italian.

The MotiMore team believes in modern education that offers students and teachers a sense of success!

Meet the founders

One of the founders of the company is Tibor Prievara, who has been teaching English in various institutions including schools, language schools and universities for more than 20 years. He has also been involved in the education of disadvantaged children throughout his career. In 2013 he won the SuliNetwork Award, and in 2015 he became the first recipient of the Ambassador of Digital Education award within the framework of the Tibor Gyúrós Award established by IVSZ – Association of Digital Enterprises. Tibor believes that learning and teaching can be an exciting and interactive process, and he created MotiMore based on this principle.

Details

Website

digital-skills-jobs.europa.eu

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital Skills

Level

Basic

Middle

Funding of the good practice

Private

 

Type of initiative of the good practice

Local initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

30.07.2024

Digital Skills for Bulgarian SMEs Programme

By Bulgaria, Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, International good practice initiative, Public, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
Digital Skills for Bulgarian SMEs Programme

18.07.2024 |

The programme Digital Skills for Bulgarian SMEs was launched in 2018 by the Global Libraries Bulgarian Foundation (GBLF). The initiative, previously implemented in Latvia, was successfully replicated in Bulgaria and aimed to connect libraries to private businesses, so they can take up the role of educational centres for modern digital knowledge and SME-specific skills. Partners of GLBF are the “Made in Bulgaria – Union of Small and Medium Business” Association and the Latvian Information and Communication Technology Association (LIKTA). T

The programme is funded under the “Transnational and Danube Partnerships for Employment and Growth” procedure of the  “Human Resources Development” 2014-2020 Operational Programme, co-financed by the European Union through the European Social Fund.

The objective behind the project ‘Digital Skills for Bulgarian SMEs’ was to enhance opportunities for sustainable employment, bringing together actors from the public and private sector, and improve the skills of the labour force in Bulgaria, with a focus on SME employees.

Aims and objectives

The project aimed to build sustainable transnational partnerships between stakeholders from Latvia and Bulgaria and encourage transfer of innovative practices such as:

  • Adaptation of an interactive training model based on online learning, face to face training and practical application of knowledge, for the acquisition of digital competence of employees in SMEs across the country;
  • Establishing public libraries as centres for digital inclusion of employees and improving the prospects for sustainable employment of 30 employees from SMEs in three Bulgarian districts.
Why is this a good practice?

The initiative achieved substantial results, implementing various activities including: a 5-day visit of 8 experts and 2 SMEs from Bulgaria to Latvia, offering an opportunity to exchange experiences and share good practices in building digital skills for the workforce. Local partner networks of stakeholders across 3 regions in Bulgaria (Plovdiv, Smolyan and Stara Zagora) were developed over the course of the project’s implementation.

A key strength was also the adaptation of a new educational programme with learning modules to enable the acquisition of some of the most up-to-date digital skills needed for SME employees (and tailored to their specific needs). Subject topics included: digital marketing, cloud services for SMEs, safe online transactions and collaboration and data protection and privacy. 

In addition, three 1-month pilot trainings gathering 30 employees in various SMEs were organised in the context of contemporary digital competences in regional libraries. The innovative methods and approaches adapted from the Latvian programme were also assessed and evaluated.

Results and impact

As a result of the project’s activities, 30 employees in SMEs in the three districts managed to improve their digital skills through easy access to flexible forms of informal learning. This resulted in improved productivity for employees, raised the competitiveness of participating SMEs in the labour market, and promoted employment sustainability.

The results were disseminated through a campaign, which reached 960 libraries from the network of the Global Libraries – Bulgaria Foundation, almost 1.400 members of the association “Made in Bulgaria”, and numerous stakeholders on both local and national level.

Details

Website

Digital Skills for Bulgarian SMEs website

 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital technology

Cloud Computing
Telecommunications
Software
Digital skills

Level

Basic

Middle

Funding of the good practice

Public

Type of initiative of the good practice

International initiative

 

Country providing the good practice

Bulgaria

Latvia

Organisation providing the good practice

Global Libraries Bulgaria Foundation (GLBF)

Start date

End date

18.07.2024

Digitalidag (Digital today)

By Bulgaria, Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION, INSPIRATION: Good practices, National good practice initiative, Other, Public-private, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments

Digitalidag (Digital today)

03.07.2023

Digitalidag is an annual event in Sweden that started in 2019 to highlight the opportunities and challenges of digitalization. It aims to inspire and enable everyone to participate in digital development through various activities and collaborations. The initiative brings together businesses, organizations, and individuals to promote digital skills and inclusion. Since January 2024, Digitalidag has been part of the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS), enhancing its sustainability and reach.

Why Digitalidag?

Digitalization affects us all at different stages of life, giving each of us unique digital skills. Most people are missing at least one skill. As digital technology advances quickly, everyone, regardless of age, needs to stay updated to avoid falling behind. Digitalization offers great benefits but also presents challenges that we must tackle together.

In response to these challenges, “Digitalidag” was established in 2019 as a national day in Sweden to focus on the opportunities and challenges of digitalization. Inspired by Switzerland’s “Digital Day,” where activities and discussions were held in central locations, Digitalidag aims to create a widespread educational movement. The goal is to inspire and enable everyone to participate in digital development through broad collaboration. Since its start, Digitalidag has successfully built a sense of community and purpose among its participants.

Impact and milestones

Over the past few years, a total of 3,633 Digitalidag activities have been organized. The Digitalidag office has facilitated over 400 matches between participants, developing an effective matchmaking method. Through collaboration, they have explored new ways to increase digital inclusion and built a platform focused on learning, dialogue, and listening. The ideas generated within the Digitalidag network lead to tangible actions, educating people in environments where they feel comfortable.

During the 2023 edition of “Digitalidag,” 375 participants organized 1,000 activities across 216 municipalities, emphasizing the importance of digital inclusion in Sweden. To further harness the participants’ significant engagement, various collaborative activities have been developed. For example, “Ring Digitalidag” is a telephone helpline for digital beginners, staffed by volunteers from Digitalidag participants’ employees.

Additionally, Digitalidag’s transformation into a matchmaking platform, now integrated into the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS), marks a crucial milestone for its sustainability and broader impact.

Why is it a good practice?

Digitalidag is a groundbreaking initiative driving digital skill advancement across Sweden. It emphasizes collaboration to enhance digital literacy and inclusion, leveraging a vast network of actors and fostering new partnerships through a matchmaking method. By utilizing existing infrastructure, it creates collaborative activities that reach all parts of Sweden. Integrated into the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority, Digitalidag ensures sustainability and scalability. The concept also has the potential for broad dissemination within the EU, aligning with the EU’s digital agenda and serving as a model for similar initiatives across member states.

Details

Website

Digital today

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for public administration

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity

Digital skills

Level

Basic

Middle

Advanced

Expert

Funding of the good practice

Public-private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Bulgaria

Other

03.07.2024

Security Center Portugal

By Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION, INSPIRATION: Good practices, National good practice initiative, Private, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
Security Center Portugal

28.06.2024

PTSOC – the .PT Security Operations Centre was created in 2019 within the DNS.PT Association with the  primary objective of strengthening the Portuguese ccTLD’s capabilities to detect, respond to, and prevent  security incidents and cyber threats, while simultaneously increasing levels of cooperation within the domain name management ecosystem and promoting digital skills, in particular cybersecurity best practices and the adoption of secure protocol standards.

About the DNS.PT Association

The DNS.PT Association is a private non-profit association responsible for managing domain names under the .pt ccTLD. Its mission is to ensure stable and reliable domain management, focusing on technological innovation that meets the needs of the national community and respecting privacy and data protection laws.

The DNS.PT Association has been working closely with the Portuguese authorities, registrars and the user community to promote a safer and more reliable cyberspace under the .pt domain. To this end, a catalogue has been developed with tailor-made and free services based on collaboration and institutional dialogue, with the aim of strengthening cybersecurity skills and good practices in online presence and communications.

This allows citizens, professionals, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to benefit from training and awareness-raising in cybersecurity areas, technical support in implementing security standards (such as DNSSEC), cybersecurity content such as that provided in PTSOC News, and cooperation in detecting and responding to security incidents.

Why is PTSOC a good practice?

The commitment to strengthen the Portuguese  was reinforced in 2023, with the close collaboration of several national reference players, particularly INCoDe.2030, Rampa Digital, National Police (PSP), CISCO, and NAU, enabling a range of significant achievements, including:

  • Successful organisation of 16 cybersecurity workshops – particularly in regions marked by regional asymmetries – an action that reached over 600 people throughout Portugal, and simultaneously takes into account disadvantaged and vulnerable communities in line with the objectives under the Skills Agenda for Europe and also the Digital Decade targets of the European Commission by 2030.
  • Building a collaborative environment of like-minded stakeholders and partners via sharing of cybersecurity awareness materials with a network of contacts and partners, through the website and social networks, and via highlighting PTSOC’s news – a quarterly magazine created to inform, enlighten and educate through news, analysis, opinion articles, documents and relevant indicators in the area of cybersecurity.
  • Development and promotion of free massive open online courses (MOOCs) – on the topics of “Cybersecurity Risk Management for Organisations” and “Business Continuity Management” – with over 5000 people throughout Portugal participating.

Fostering skills-building and security through PTSOC

By providing training opportunities designed specifically for cybersecurity professionals, PTSOC is instrumental in bridging the skills gap identified in the Portuguese labour market.

Established collaborative networks between universities and private organisations has already started to lay down the foundations of a strong national talent pool. Internships, workshops and certification programs developed in this context have helped to improve the skills landscape in Portugal to a massive extent. PTSOC is working on more and more of those as part of their commitment to promoting cybersecurity skills, and leaving no one behind.

Details

Website

PTSOC

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital skills for public administration

Digital technology

Cybersecurity

Level

Basic

Middle

Funding of the good practice

Private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

Organisation

Association DNS.PT

28.06.2024

HELLO SPACE | Bulgaria Calling 4.0

By Bulgaria, Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION, INSPIRATION: Good practices, Local good practice initiative, Public-private, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
HELLO SPACE | Bulgaria Calling 4.0

26.06.2024

On June 25, 2024, the fourth edition of the youth science festival HELLO, SPACE | Bulgaria Calling! took place.

Festival visitors (2000+) had the opportunity to enjoy over 50 interactive stands, 15+ workshops, 15+ intriguing lectures, demonstrations by the special forces of the Bulgarian Army, and many other captivating space activities. For the first time on our stage, we had a real NASA astronaut from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Axiom Space – Michael López-Alegría, an American former NASA astronaut and current chief astronaut at Axiom Space. He holds the NASA record with 10 spacewalks, totaling 67 hours and 40 minutes spent outside a spacecraft. 🚀

The main goal of the festival is to ignite the imagination of children and young people, inspiring them to look towards Space, the Moon, Mars, and beyond, as well as to pursue the path towards a Nobel Prize and other great achievements in the STEAM fields.

About HELLO, SPACE | Bulgaria Speaks

The festival aims to excite and inspire youth imagination, dreams, and perspectives towards higher, deeper, and farther horizons beyond the visible daily life. Not least, the festival promotes pursuing careers and development in the STEAM sciences to generate innovative solutions for future challenges.

The initiative encourages Bulgarian youth to pursue development in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics.

The festival offers diverse activities such as:

– A lecture program in the Tedx format by Bulgarian and international scientists and experts
– Interactive stands where visitors can experience the most attractive developments and technologies
– Scientific workshops
– Outdoor demonstrations

Over the past three years, the number of visitors to “HELLO, SPACE | Bulgaria Speaks” has exceeded 4,500 people, and the reached audience through traditional, online media, and live broadcasts on NASA TV is over 23 million people worldwide.

The main program of the event includes numerous scientific workshops, interactive exhibitions, impressive demonstrations, and talks with scientists from various fields of science.

Key moments from past editions of the festival:

– Live connection with astronaut Michael López-Alegría, former NASA astronaut, and current chief astronaut at AXIOM SPACE
– Direct connection with the International Space Station
– Personal address to the festival visitors by Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator
– The long-awaited talk with Dr. Swati Mohan (American aerospace engineer, head of operations for guidance and control of NASA’s Mars 2020 mission), where 10 students received answers to their space questions directly from her.
– Conversation with the first female astronaut – Anna Fisher
– Demonstrations by the special forces of Bulgaria
– Virtual tour of CERN, followed by a Q&A session between the CERN team, students, and young scientists.
– Captivating experiment on “basic teleportation,” based on the polarization of light quanta with the participation of Assoc. Prof. Lachezar Georgiev, Institute for Nuclear Research, QUASAR project. The children ask: When and where will we teleport?
– Conversation with Gregory “Box” Johnson – famous F-16 test pilot for Lockheed Martin, former NASA astronaut, and former president of the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space.
– Telescopic observations of the Sun — Department of Astronomy at the Faculty of Physics, Sofia University

 

For more information about HELLO, SPACE | Bulgaria Speaks and upcoming editions, you can find it HERE.

Details

Website

www.hello-space.eu

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity

IoT

Digital Skills

Level

Middle

Advanced

Funding of the good practice

Public-private

Type of initiative of the good practice

Local initiative

Country providing the good practice

Bulgaria

Organisation providing the good practice

Atlantic Club of Bulgaria

Start date

2021

End date

2024

26.06.2024

SPINOFF BULGARIA

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Big data, Bulgaria, Computing, Country providing the good practice, Cybersecurity, For ICT professionals, For public administration, Funding of the good practice, In education, INSPIRATION, Inspiration, INSPIRATION: Good practices, IoT, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, National good practice initiative, Private, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
SPINOFF BULGARIA

25.06.2024

About Spinoff Bulgaria

 

Spinoff Bulgaria is the largest initiative dedicated to technology transfer, science-based  innovation and spinoff investments in Bulgaria and the region. The two-days format includes a wide range of  keynotes, panel discussions, workshops and roundtables and offers opportunities for networking,  matchmaking and the exchange of best practices.

The target group are scientists, universities and TTOs as well as investors, representatives of national  ministries and European organizations, experts, students, innovators and representatives of  corporations and business.

In addition to the exchange of insights and know-how and awareness-raising for topics related to technology  transfer, the declared goal of the spinoff initiative is to launch and initiate international cooperation projects  and spinoff foundations. By 2030, we aim to have helped 100 spinoff companies get founded, gain  investments and grow commercially.

The initiative supports the development of a sustainable spinoff ecosystem in Bulgaria, SEE and Europe by connecting national stakeholder with international partners. By presenting best practices, insights and collaboration opportunities, the initiative stimulates interest in the creation of spinoffs, promote the culture of technology transfer and bring together European organisations, companies, academia and investors.

Leading Technologies in Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Microelectronics, and Circular Economy Showcased at the Third Edition of Spinoff Conference 2024

 

The international conference Spinoff Conference was held for the third consecutive year on June 20 and 21, 2024, at Sofia Tech Park, John Atanasoff Forum, once again providing a platform for exchanging ideas, know-how, and raising awareness on topics related to technology transfer.

The primary goal set by the organisers— Health and Life Sciences Cluster, Artificial Intelligence Cluster Bulgaria, Venrize – spinoff factory, ISTEB—is to create a favourable environment for the growth and realization of 100 spinoff companies by 2030. These companies aim to provide high-value-added products and services crucial for the modernization and innovation of the Bulgarian economy. The initiative is supported by numerous ministries, municipalities, professional associations, and universities.

At the conference’s opening, Kristina Eskenazi, one of the main organizers, shared that over the past three years, more than 40 spinoff companies have been presented and awarded on the prestigious stage. “Bulgaria has immense capacity in cutting-edge technologies, and over the next two days, we have the opportunity to showcase them to you,” she stated.

Awards and Recognitions

One of the most anticipated events of the conference was the awarding of “Spinoff of the Year.” This prestigious award was given to companies that have successfully implemented innovative technologies and achieved significant market success. Six companies were awarded the Spinoff of the Year 2024: Momfident, VAReyes, Senesys. Biо, Simenso Ltd, MedTechLab, and Neuromorphica.

You can find additional information about the agenda and previous editions HERE.

Details

Website

www.spinoff.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity

Level

Advanced

Expert

Funding of the good practice

Private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Bulgaria

Organisation providing the good practice

AI CLUSTER BULGARIA

Start date

20.06.2024

End date

21.06.2024

25.06.2024

Computational Thinking Programme – Malta

By Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, Local good practice initiative, Other, Public, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
Computational Thinking Programme - Malta

18.06.2024

The Computational Thinking Programme, a collaborative effort between the Directorate for Digital Literacy and Transversal Skills and the eSkills Malta Foundation, represents a strategic initiative currently in its pilot phase, implemented in 10 Maltese State Primary schools, one from each college.

At its core, this programme has two primary objectives. The first is establishing a sustainable educational framework spanning the entire spectrum of Primary Education, starting with kindergarten classes and progressively targeting specific learning outcomes in subsequent school years. This ensures that computational thinking becomes an integral part of the students’ educational journey from the very beginning. The second objective is to make computational thinking and coding activities a sound aspect of school culture. Instead of sporadic efforts, these skills will become a fundamental and ever-present part of students’ learning experience.

The Computational Thinking Programme places significant emphasis on providing both educators and learners with crucial skills. Equip educators with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude to effectively integrate computational thinking into their teaching practices, thereby empowering learners to develop their computational thinking competences. In addition, students actively engage in the programme, and acquire problem-solving skills that allow them to break down complex challenges into more manageable tasks, by logically arranging them. In addition, they cultivate logical and rational thinking, which lays a solid foundation for making informed decisions and resolving complex issues, and ensures that they are well prepared for a successful life.

The programme includes:

Training sessions offered by the respective providers: Between October 2022 and January 2023, a series of hands-on training sessions were conducted by the respective providers. Education Officers (Curriculum), the Primary Digital Literacy Support Team, school coordinators, as well as two educators from each participating primary school attended these engaging training sessions. During these training sessions, participants became more familiar with the concepts of Composite Thinking and Learning Outcomes. These sessions helped educators improve their ability to effectively integrate Computational Thinking concepts into classroom environments.

Provision of resources: Through the collaboration with eSkills Malta Foundation, the resources were procured following thorough market research and received procurement approval from MEYR. These resources were provided to the participating schools.

Curriculum Alignment: The programme includes the mapping of computational thinking and coding activities to the curriculum, and ensures that they align with the educational goals and standards of the primary school system.

Field support: The Primary Digital Literacy Support Team provides continuous on-site support during classroom activities and Curriculum Time sessions. This support aims to facilitate the smooth integration of computational thinking into the educational process.

Inheritance: The Comprehensive Thinking Programme has a broad vision that extends beyond the boundaries of the classroom. It seeks to cultivate a mindset among students, one that values curiosity, adaptability and resilience. This mentality empowers them to thrive in a rapidly changing world, where the ability to adapt and solve new problems is paramount.

Through partnerships with various stakeholders, the programme also aspires to fundamentally transform education itself. The aim is to integrate computational thinking into curricula, thereby redesigning the very foundation of the education system. This change not only prepares students for the digital age but also ensures that education aligns with the needs of an ever-evolving world, effectively putting the next generation to success.

Details

Website

digital-skills-jobs.europa.eu

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital technology

Software engineering

Level

Basic

Funding of the good practice

Public

 

Type of initiative of the good practice

Local initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

18.06.2024

San Blas Digital School

By Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, National good practice initiative, Other, Public, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
San Blas Digital School

14.06.2024

The San Blas Digital Skills School, an initiative by Ayuntamiento de Madrid and its partners, is part of the “Madrid, Digital Capital” strategy to position Madrid as a benchmark city in digital transformation. Located in the refurbished Santa Marta de Babio educational complex in the San Blas-Canillejas district, the school focuses on creating a training and employment space for young people and new technologies. The goal is to establish a new management model for training, education, and employment promotion activities.

Who are the Beneficiaries?

The primary beneficiaries of the San Blas Digital Skills School are citizens of Madrid, companies interested in digital innovation, and public and private entities committed to digital transformation. The school aims to stimulate and promote employment related to digital transformation, innovation, and the use of digital environments. The school targets young people, job seekers, and professionals seeking to enhance their digital skills and employability by offering various resources and activities. Additionally, companies presenting innovative proposals for digitalisation benefit from the school’s initiatives, making it a comprehensive hub for digital skills development in Madrid.

Current Impact

Since its launch in February 2023, the San Blas Digital Skills School has seen steady growth in participation. Throughout the year, 9,108 individuals engaged in the school’s activities, with the latter half recording monthly participation figures exceeding 1,000. Over 546 activities were conducted in 2023, with 66% focused on digital training and education. The school hosted significant events such as the 1st San Blas Job Fair. These efforts have contributed to transforming citizens’ vision regarding job opportunities in an increasingly digitalised environment, fostering the creation of digital talent geared towards innovative processes.

Why is it a Good Practice?

The San Blas Digital Skills School exemplifies best practices in digital education and employment promotion by addressing the critical need for digital literacy and employability. By providing a wide range of activities, including training sessions, workshops, exhibitions, and professional conferences, the school ensures that participants gain both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. The mentoring and advice from professionals, along with modern facilities equipped with state-of-the-art devices, create an optimal learning environment. The school’s comprehensive approach, including leisure activities to develop personal, social, and digital skills, ensures the holistic development of participants. The collaboration with citizens, companies, and public and private entities further strengthens its impact, making it a model for digital skills development and employability in the city of Madrid.

Details

Website

digital-skills-jobs.europa.eu

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills
Digital transformation

Level

Basic

Middle

Advanced

Funding of the good practice

Public

 

Type of initiative of the good practice

Local initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

14.06.2024

Sparks initiative

By Bulgaria, Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, International good practice initiative, Other, Public, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
Sparks initiative

14.06.2024

Sparks, an initiative by Lascò and partners, addresses the profound educational challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted the learning pathways of nearly 1.6 billion students globally. This disruption threatened to cause a ‘long-term learning loss’ as students struggled to re-engage with educational activities. Recognising the need to keep students engaged, Sparks developed gamification-based tools to create innovative and engaging learning experiences, leveraging game elements to enhance learner motivation.

Who are the Beneficiaries?

Sparks primarily targets Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers, aiming to address the pandemic-induced challenges of maintaining learner engagement and motivation. The initiative supports VET learners, teachers, and trainers in adapting to online learning and increasing their digital skills. Additionally, Sparks involves school, higher, and adult education providers, policy-makers, other relevant EU projects and initiatives, experts in ICT and gamification, and the media. The initiative aims to enhance the digital competencies of educators and provide learners with opportunities to improve their transversal and lifelong skills.

Current Impact

Since its inception, Sparks has directly engaged over 1,200 VET professionals and learners. The project outputs have been downloaded more than 1,500 times, with 87% of educators and 89% of students recommending the Learning Management System to their colleagues or peers. The dissemination activities have reached over 25,000 recipients, significantly increasing the competencies and tools available to VET educators for delivering gamified eLearning experiences. The initiative has been recognised as a best practice by the UN Global Compact for its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals.

Why is it a Good Practice?

Sparks addresses the critical need to keep students engaged in learning during the pandemic, mitigating the risk of long-term learning loss. The initiative enhances the ability to use digital technologies creatively and collaboratively by developing innovative tools and practices for VET providers. Providing a conceptual framework and gamified eLearning program templates supports the design of engaging learning experiences. The gamified Learning Management System, available in seven languages, facilitates creating, delivering, and managing gamified courses, offering practical examples and step-by-step guidance. The initiative’s comprehensive approach, including best practices reports, facilitator guides, and eLearning modules, equips VET educators with the skills and resources needed to motivate learners effectively. Sparks exemplifies the successful integration of gamification into education, fostering a more engaging and resilient learning environment in the face of unprecedented challenges.

Details

Website

digital-skills-jobs.europa.eu

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Digital Skills

Level

Basic

Middle

Advanced

Funding of the good practice

Private

Public

Public-private

Type of initiative of the good practice

International initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

14.06.2024

Robotics for Good Youth Challenge

By Bulgaria, Country providing the good practice, EU Initiatives, EU institutional good practice initiative, EU Institutional initiative, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, INSPIRATION: Initiatives, Other, Public, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
Robotics for Good Youth Challenge

20.05.2024

The Robotics for Good Youth Challenge is an initiative launched by the UN in the context of growing climate challenges and increasingly frequent and intense natural disasters. Global climate change increases the risks and intensity of disasters such as torrential rains, landslides, flash floods, earthquakes, hurricanes and forest fires. In response to these emergencies, using robots for search and rescue operations is proving particularly effective.

Autonomous robots offer a quick and accurate response to finding survivors, which is crucial when every minute counts. By reducing the exposure of first responders to hazardous situations, these machines make disaster relief safer, more efficient and more affordable. In addition, robots have the advantage of being carbon neutral, which is part of a sustainable approach. They can speed up search and rescue operations, conduct geological mapping, assess damage, remove rubble and deliver medical supplies, among other tasks.

Why is this a good practice?

In this context, the Robotics for Good Youth Challenge invites teams from worldwide to design, build and code robots to address specific challenges related to disaster response for the year 2024-2025. Participants can use platforms such as Arduino, Raspberry Pi, or LEGO Mindstorms. The process includes research, brainstorming, prototyping, and programming. This educational competition aims to promote robotics and programming skills among young people, while raising awareness of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Participants acquire technical knowledge in robotics and coding, while developing essential skills for their professional and future lives, such as teamwork, problem solving, project management, critical thinking and information retrieval.

How can I participate in this initiative?

Contest participants can register in person if a national organiser is present in their country or region. In the absence of a physical event, they have the opportunity to individually prepare their project and submit their results as a video for evaluation by a jury. In Luxembourg, this challenge is organised by the Lëtzebuerger Kannerduerf Foundation in Luxembourg. Private and public entities are encouraged to organise national events for this challenge between April 2024 and April 2025, with applications for the organisation to be submitted before 1 June 2024, and participant registrations open until 1 November 2024. Participants, usually between the ages of 12 and 18, register individually or as part of a team. Each team is encouraged to be composed of members with diverse interests and skills for a multidisciplinary approach.

The competition promotes inclusion by making learning robotics and coding accessible to all, regardless of gender, socio-economic status or academic abilities. It also encourages the use of recycled materials and environmentally friendly solutions, with a focus on the development of sustainable robots.

How the Challenge works

After registration and conniassance of the theme chosen for the edition, the challenge takes place in several stages

  1. Mentoring and workshops: Participants benefit from mentoring sessions with robotics and engineering experts. Workshops are organized to teach specific technical skills and guide the teams in the development of their projects.
  2. Presentations and evaluations: Teams present their projects to a jury of technology and sustainability experts. The evaluation criteria shall include innovation, feasibility, social and environmental impact, presentation and teamwork.
  3. Award ceremony: The best teams are rewarded at an awards ceremony. Winners may receive scholarships, funding to further develop their projects, or opportunities for continuous mentoring.
Old edition

In one of the last editions, for example, the theme was ‘Technology for Health and Well-being’, a topic relevant in the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Projects featured included robots to help older people stay active at home, automated disinfection systems, and solutions to improve mental health through technology.

Details

Website

Robotics for Good Youth Challenge

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills

Level

Basic

Intermidiate

Advanced

Funding of the good practice

Public

Type of initiative of the good practice

EU institutional initiative

Country providing the good practice

Bulgaria

Other

Organisation providing the good practice

International Telecommunication Union

20.05.2024

Future is Code

By Bulgaria, Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, National good practice initiative, Public, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
Future is Code

30.04.2021

Future is Code is an initiative organised by the Digital National Alliance, aided by a team of volunteers and with the cooperation of the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and regional municipalities. It aims to create links between information and communication technology (ICT) sector experts, digital professionals and secondary school students in order to raise awareness about the prospects of coding and ICT in general as a career path. Launched in 2014, Future is Code’s mission is to bring a more down-to-earth perspective on coding and programming , spark interest in the digital sector, and break identified stereotypes surrounding the ICT sector (such as the idea that coding and programming skills are hard to develop without formal education).

The initiative is structured in the form of one-day workshops, in which ICT professionals spend a day at a school, teaching a class in their field of expertise. The main target group are digital experts on one side, and students between the ages from 12 to 18 (regardless of their profile of focus or specialisation). Another focus of Future is Code is schools, with a special focus on secondary schools specialising in humanities and subjects unrelated to mathematics, engineering or science. Workshops can take place also in a more informal setting, where students can feel free to ask questions, raise concerns or start a more personal conversation about interests and ambitions with the visiting expert. On the website can be found links to the EU Code Week initiative, with learning resources on digital skills in Bulgarian, as well as other materials tailored for children and young people. The initiative also aims to involve the growing ICT business sector in Bulgaria by encouraging companies, businesses and start-ups to take part in the not-for-profit initiative too by supporting employees, for example by offering paid transport to and from the school, or counting programme participation towards the working day in an organisational context.

Despite the growth of the ICT sector in Bulgaria in recent years, there is a lack of qualified educators and teachers in the area of information technology (IT) and technology education in Bulgaria, and this issue is more prominent in rural areas and smaller towns. Digital and ICT experts and professionals interested in participating are provided with guidance and examples of how to illustrate technological topics in an understandable way, including ideas for organising a more interactive type of workshop, for instance by getting students to work with Scratch, watch a video on the subject of technology, or touch upon basic logic of programming languages like HTML and CSS. The pilot version of the project took place in 2014 as part of the activities developed in the EU Code Week and has constituted in an initiative with different supporters from the private sector (Microsoft, SAP, HackBulgaria, Oracle, among others) across its different versions.

Details

Website

Future is Code

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Software
Web Development

Level

Basic

Middle

Funding of the good practice

Public

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Bulgaria

Organisation providing the good practice

Digital National Alliance

Start date

(dd.mm.yy)

End date

(dd.mm.yy)

30.04.2024

Bulgaria: DevCamp

By Bulgaria, Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, National good practice initiative, Private, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
BULGARIA: DevCamp

01.04.2024

DevCamp is suitable for students and novice developers who want to gain hands-on experience and learn key programming skills. It is part of our Internship Program, which starts with an intensive but affordable training (DevCamp), followed by a paid internship and the opportunity to work permanently at TelebidPro

 

DevCamp: Getting Started and Immersion into the World of Programming
What can you expect?
Practical Assignments – These will be exercises and independent projects to reinforce your programming knowledge

Interactive Workshops – You will participate in workshops led by experienced professionals who will introduce you to different techniques and best practices in programming

Team and Independent Work on Real Projects – You will develop a client-server web application independently or in a team. Here you will apply your knowledge in a practical environment and learn how to distribute your tasks effectively

Personalised Mentoring – Experienced mentors will review your assignments and provide you with individual feedback on your development

Introduction to Telebid Pro Technology – You will have the opportunity to go behind the scenes of the technologies we use at Telebid Pro. Plus, you’ll have access to free training materials and online lectures

Opportunity for Paid Internship
After successfully completing the first stage of our program, the door opens to a paid internship with Telebid Pro, lasting up to 6 months. This is an opportunity to make real professional strides in the world of software development.

Permanent Job Opportunity
And for the most motivated and excellent performers – the doors of our team are open. The best of you will be invited to join us as full members of the Telebid Pro team.

You will gain knowledge and skills in key topics
⇒ Version Control – Git

⇒ OOP

⇒ SQL & Databases

⇒ Data Structures & Algorithms

⇒ Web Development

⇒ Clean Code

⇒ Design Patterns

⇒ Full Stack Development

Additional information can be found HERE.

 

Details

Website

www.telebid-pro.com

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Web Development

Software Engineering

Level

Basic

Middle

Advanced

Funding of the good practice

Private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Bulgaria

Organisation providing the good practice

Telebid – Pro

01.04.2024

BULGARIA: Para Robotics Incubator

By AI & ML, Audience, Bulgaria, For children, In education, INSPIRATION, INSPIRATION: Good practices, Local good practice initiative, National good practice initiative, Private, Robotics, TechnologyNo Comments
BULGARIA: Para Robotics Incubator

15.03.2024 |

The Professional Association for Robotics and Automation (PARA) is recruiting participants for the third consecutive time for its educational program, PARA Robotics Incubator.

PARA Robotics Incubator is an incubator for robotics aimed at students and young professionals. The initiative selects projects from young people and helps them develop these projects to the “prototype” level.

Participants in the program will receive mentorship guidance, hardware, and access to specialized equipment in laboratories. The main goal of the program is for participants to create a working prototype based on a pre-designed project, thereby fostering entrepreneurship.

To enroll in the program, participants must be at least 14 years old and possess basic programming skills. Over the course of the six-month program, each participant is expected to complete their prototype. The projects encouraged should be focused on the fields of robotics, artificial intelligence, and automation.

In the third season of the incubator, projects sought are those aimed at: drones, industrial solutions, machine vision and artificial intelligence, agriculture, technical solutions for sustainable living, and the Internet of Things.

The five selected projects from across Bulgaria will have the opportunity to receive:

– Hardware
– Access to a prototyping space
– Mentorship assistance
– An interactive educational program
– A chance to win a prize of 5000 leva

Desired skills for participants in the program:

– Motivated to develop in the field of technical sciences
– Have their own technical project or idea
– Open to receiving feedback
– Technical knowledge above the average level
– Want to develop their project into a working prototype

Program Modules
What will you learn?

Module 1: Design Thinking
Concepts for developing new products, applications, and innovations within teams

Module 2: Sales and Marketing
Models for reaching the end customer through commercial and advertising tools

Module 3: Collaboration
How people and robots can work together, an overview of methods for coordination, collaboration, and assigning tasks to robots

Module 4: Machine Vision and Machine Orientation
An overview of models and methods for detecting, tracking, and recognizing objects, as well as applying these models to solve problems in real-world environments

 

For the remaining modules, read HERE.

 

And here is some more information about the main stages of the program:

  • The selection of teams will take place on April 6th this year during the special event Demo Day at The Venue in Sofia Tech Park. All teams will present their ideas there, and the jury will choose 5 projects to participate in the program.
  • The educational program will start on April 7th and will run until September 26, 2024. It will include active work with lectures, participation in mentorship sessions, visits to laboratories, and various activities for project development.
  • On September 26th, during the annual Robotics Strategy Forum, the final demonstration of the developments will take place. On that day, the winners of the third edition of the incubator will be announced and awarded.

More information about the program can be found on the official website of the PARA Robotics Incubator.

Details

Website

www.incubator.para.expert

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Robotics

Level

Intermediate

Advanced

Funding of the good practice

Private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Local initiative

Country providing the good practice

Bulgaria

Organisation providing the good practice

PARA- Professional Association of Robotics and Automation

Start date

02.04.2024

End date

26.09.2024

15.03.2024

Digital Skills Partnership

By Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, National good practice initiative, Other, Public, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
Digital Skills Partnership

15.02.2024

Meet, exchange and collaborate between businesses and promoters of digital projects.

The Digital Skills Partnership (DSP) is a programme that aims to operationalise partnerships between businesses and initiatives in the digital field. With the evolution of our daily lives, digital has profoundly transformed the way we communicate, work, learn and even interact with our environment. It is therefore crucial for all actors in society to adapt to this digital transformation. For IMS, digitalisation is essential to respond to current challenges and build a sustainable future for all.

What is the added value?

This programme offers an opportunity for mutually beneficial partnerships. Participating companies can support local initiatives by implementing their CSR policy, mobilising their staff and engaging in positive impact projects. For initiatives, the CSP offers visibility, enabling them to raise awareness of their causes and obtain valuable support in their partnerships.

Who can participate?

The participating initiatives can be social and solidarity-based economy structures, public organisations, schools and training institutions, as well as research actors. They all share a shared commitment to digital and a willingness to make a positive difference in society.

For businesses, they can participate locally in initiatives, also enabling them to implement their CSR strategies.

Process of the project

The programme takes place in several key phases, including preparatory workshops for companies and project promoters, a Digital Skills Matchmaking event for quick meetings between businesses and initiatives, as well as follow-up workshops to maintain and develop established partnerships.

  • Preparation workshop for Digital Skills Matchmaking for initiatives – 15 May 2024
  • Digital Skills Matchmaking Preparation Workshop for Business – 16 May 2024
  • Digital Skills Matchmaking – Level 2024
  • Partnership Monitoring Workshop – Autumn 2024
Digital Skills Matchmaking

The Digital Skills Matchmaking event will be organised in summer 2 024 in line with speed meeting. This great meeting is a unique opportunity for businesses and initiatives to connect, share ideas and create partnerships.

This event has existed since 2021 and brings together around fifty digital players each year in Luxembourg and WielkoRégion to set up partnerships. Every year, in addition to the speed meeting concept, the event hosts speakers on topics related to CSR and digital initiatives. In 2023, more than 38 partnerships were signed at the Digital Skills Matchmaking held at the ICT Spring. The event included Laurence Roquelaure d’Accenture Luxembourg, Hélène Snyer d’Accenture Song BELUX, Torlogh O’Boyled d’Accenture UK & Ireland and Mara K. GoldenMe, who shared their experience in setting up partnerships between companies and initiatives.

The Digital Skills Partnership programme is supported by the Ministry of State’s Innovative Initiatives initiative of the Media Service, Connectivity and Digital Policy, as well as by the European Social Fund and the Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition.

Details

Website

DIGITAL SKILLS PARNERSHIP

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Digital skills

Level

Basic

Middle

Advanced

Expert

Funding of the good practice

Public

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

Organisation providing the good practice

DIGITAL SKILLS PARNERSHIP

TO BE FILLED: Here should be the title of the event in capital letters. The same title goes in the section above "ADD TITLE". Please include the country providing the practice in it.

dd.mm.2023

TO BE FILLED: A brief summary is placed here, followed by the text about the good practice.

Details

Website

www.digitalalliance.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital skills for public administration

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity

Level

Basic

Middle

Advanced

Expert

Funding of the good practice

Private

Public

Public-private

Type of initiative of the good practice

EU institutional initiative

International initiative

National initiative

Local initiative

Country providing the good practice

Bulgaria

Other

Organisation providing the good practice

Name of the organisation

Start date

(dd.mm.yy)

End date

(dd.mm.yy)

15.02.2024

EdTech Estonia

By Country providing the good practice, EU Initiatives, EU institutional good practice initiative, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, Other, Public, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
EdTech Estonia

02.02.2024

Estonia is contributing to the development of its education technology sector (EdTech) in the framework of the National Education Strategy and Development Plan.

The strategic objective is to support the creation of a learner-centred education system that supports the autonomous learner – the personal capacity of each learner to set goals and plan their development.

Purpose and objectives
The main objective of the cooperation is to establish new EdTech services, to provide various programmes to promote the further science-based development of these services and enterprises, and to assist in export activities. Through this cooperation, the country aims to capture many of the services needed to create an interoperable education service system, which means that education service providers will share data to provide a more personalised learning experience for each student. The Ministry of Education and Research is working on building a digital infrastructure to facilitate data sharing.

Background to the opinion
The collaboration started in 2018 when the government funded the establishment of an EdTech priority area in a government-funded organisation called StartUp Estonia. Since then, the EdTech sector has grown significantly during the cooperation, to triple the number of service providers, increase turnover by 168% between 2017 and 2021, and increase employment in the sector by 81%.

The programme aimed to foster the development of a supportive community of EdTech start-ups. To this end, they have started to bring disruptive educational innovations closer to schools, including helping to bring new Estonian EdTech start-ups to market and supporting existing EdTech start-ups to become the country’s next success stories worldwide.

The programme is funded by the Ministry of Education and Research and the European Regional Fund in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Communication. The country sees the development of the EdTech sector, which has been going on for 50 years, as an educational need and an economic opportunity.

In 2020, the sector and the community have reached the level to establish an umbrella organisation in the form of EdTech Estonia. The Ministry has since signed a strategic partnership agreement with the organisation, and commitments and funding for the development of the sector have increasingly moved to EdTech Estonia.

Why is this good practice?
EdTech Estonia currently provides all relevant lifecycle support for service providers in the sector, which helped Estonia to be named a Bett International EdTech Programme in 2021.

Estonia has generally prioritised high levels of interoperability between its IT systems in its public administration. This has led to a high level of administrative capacity in the public sector in general, but also in education. Student and teacher data are easily exchanged between different administrative systems that have the appropriate authorisation. However, further cooperation between the public and private sectors is crucial to further develop the capacity of the education system to ensure the development of truly self-directed learners through technology.

A first step to establish common goals in this respect between private and public actors was set out in a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation between EdTech Estonia as the representative of the corporate sector and various ministries in 2022. The document outlines responsibilities and common goals and provides a framework for further future cooperation.

Details

Website

digital-skills-jobs.europa.eu

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Digital skills

Level

Basic

Middle

Advanced

Expert

Funding of the good practice

Public

 

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

Organisation providing the good practice

Ministry of Education and Research of Estonia

02.02.2024

BULGARIA: HUMANS IN THE LOOP

By Bulgaria, Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, International good practice initiative, Private, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
BULGARIA: HUMANS IN THE LOOP

01.02.2024

Who we are?

Humans in the Loop is an award-winning social enterprise which supports people affected by conflict to digitally upskill and to access digital work opportunities. Founded in Sofia, Bulgaria in 2017, the organization has provided over 600 people with digital skills education and over 100 people with digital work. The organization works in Bulgaria and also with local partners
in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Iraq and Kenya.

Humans in the Loop and their founder Iva Gumnishka are winners of the 2022 EU Prize for Women Innovators, Cartier Women’s Initiative 2023 and the Sustainable Development Goals Digital GameChangers Award 2023.

 

Background and aims

The UN estimates that in 2023 over 114 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced due to violence, human rights violations and persecution. When people are displaced by conflict, their opportunities for work and education are often limited. At the same time, The
World Economic Forum has predicted that nearly 97 million new jobs will be created by AI. Humans in the Loop exists to provide access to these opportunities in AI, which in turn provide financial independence and career progression. In addition, the I.T sector is famously undiverse with a significant lack of women taking up tech careers and a low representation of ethnic minorities in tech in the EU, US and UK.

Lack of diversity in tech directly impacts the quality and ethics of AI technology with concerns about AI bias widely discussed. Humans in the Loop focuses on creating a flexible and diverse workforce with equal opportunities for both men and women. The organization provides a wide range of services including personalised career support and free online courses which can be accessed globally. These include introductory courses to basic I.T, Programming, Business Analytics, Graphic Design and Digital Marketing.
English courses and annotation (a key skill for building AI models and the focus of HITL’s for-profit company) are also provided free of charge for people affected by conflict.

 

Why is this good practice?

Humans in the Loop (HITL) has a focus on gender equality, over 50% of those provided with digital work and over 70% of those trained by the organization since 2017 are women. HITL also has a global focus and supports those going through the most difficult of circumstances to access upskilling and paid work. Through access to the digital economy, the organization enables people to move away from a reliance on humanitarian aid, creating a sustainable model with a focus on independence. This in turn supports the development of a diverse tech sector which reflects the world we live in.

Humans in the Loop provides training from entry-level to advanced, enabling those who have no previous experience in I.T to access upskilling and project based work experience. This model addresses the Digital Skills gap as well as an insight into what life as an I.T
professional might look like through introductory programmes such as' Introduction to Programming with Python’.

Training provided by the organization is delivered online which enables trainees to be flexible and fit training around work, caring responsibilities and travel. Introductory courses are delivered in a variety of languages (English, Arabic, Persian and Ukrainian) ensuring that the courses are accessible. Trainees who are onboarded onto paid work with Humans in the Loop are provided with access to additional training, healthcare support and are represented through HITL’s Beneficiary Advisory Board which provides a space for workers to oversee the strategic direction of the organization and directly input into the training programmes developed. Humans in the Loop has been certified as B-Corp, recognising its commitment to social impact.

Details

Website

www.humansintheloop.org

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Machine learning

Digital skills

Level

Basic

Average

Advanced

Funding of the good practice

Private

Type of initiative of the good practice

International initiative

Country providing the good practice

Bulgaria

Organisation providing the good practice

Humans in the Loop

01.02.2024

Increased digital competence in everyday life with Funk-IT Lyftet – Sweden

By Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, National good practice initiative, Other, Public, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
Increased digital competence in everyday life with Funk-IT Lyftet – Sweden

21.11.2023

The goal of Funk-IT Lyftet is to increase digital skills in society – especially for people who in one way or another find it difficult to embrace modern technology. These may involve disabilities of various kinds or lack of knowledge, access or accustomed to using digital services for other reasons. A lot in society today requires us to be able to use a computer, tablet or mobile – such as e-mailing and making video calls, searching for information on government agencies, using payment services and booking medical visits or trips. Funk-IT Lyftet includes a number of courses that help users get started with modern technology in everyday life.

Background and objectives

Funk-IT Lyftet is a collaborative project between Uppsala Municipality and the Swedish Post and Telecom Agency (PTS). The target group was primarily people with disabilities who have support measures in various forms through the municipality. This was then broadened to most people who need to learn how to use modern technology in their everyday lives, such as the elderly and people with visual impairment.

In connection with the start-up, a needs inventory was made where it emerged that large parts of the target group had difficulties in contacting authorities, using mobile phone and computer and managing their everyday finances or paying bills.

Development of course material

The course material was developed in 5 stages during the period 2019-2021.

  • Stage 1: Here the course leaders designed the material in smaller working groups with feedback from user representatives, after which test courses were conducted with subsequent feedback.
  • Phase 2-3: In these phases, the course material was further developed and used practically, with feedback from online surveys.
  • Stage 4: During this period, the pandemic affected the work on physical courses, and therefore the work was shifted to digital meetings where films were created for several of the courses.
  • Stage 5: The focus in the final stage was on visual interpretation of the filmed material, as the target group and course content were also broadened to most people who need to learn modern technology, to example the elderly and people with visual impairment.

Important parts of the work have been: needs inventory, feedback from users and user associations in all phases, making available, clear impact targets and follow-up after completion of the project.

Course content

All courses are available as Powerpoint, PDF, video on Youtube and audio-interpreted version. The content reflects the needs of the target groups and covers a variety of everyday needs:

  • Use e-mail
  • Good in everyday life (e.g. shopping online)
  • Travel (such as booking a travel service and buying bus tickets)
  • E-leg, internet banking and Swish
  • Find information on public authorities’ websites
  • Communication support (including video calls with different apps)
  • Download an app
  • Search for news and culture
  • Seeking information and risk awareness (including social media and source criticism)

Therefore, this is a good example

As society becomes increasingly digitised, large groups risk being excluded – both in everyday life and professionally. This can increase the risk of lack of care, limit participation in society, cause difficulties in managing the economy, and hinder the ability to reach and provide feedback in contact with the public (such as care and support).

Funk-IT Lyftet is an example of how projects can be implemented for target groups with challenges in using digital tools, and how it can be done with anchoring among users and user associations.

“I didn’t know how to get an email address. Now I’ve created an email account, and can write to my friends!

Course participants quoted in the final report *

In total, approximately 10000 uses of Funk-IT Lyftet’s course material have been registered (participants in courses/info and page views on internal and external web), and 85 % of course participants in the target groups and 92 % of staff who participated were very satisfied/satisfied with the content of the courses.*

The courses have not only developed the skills of target groups when it comes to using modern technology. It has also helped the instructors to get better at their job.

“There are so many people who need Funk-IT that are not in the digital world. We’ve had to focus, make it clear. The need is huge, not only for our target groups, but for many across Sweden.”

Instructor quoted in the final report *

* From Final Project Implementation Report: Funk-IT Lyftet – increased participation through courses that provide everyday digital competence.

Download the final report for the project (in English).

Details

Website

digital-skills-jobs.europa.eu

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital technology

Digital Skills

Level

Basic

Funding of the good practice

Public

 

Type of initiative of the good practice

Local initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

Start date

01.02.2023

End date

01.03.2023

21.11.2023

Latvian School Olympiad in Informatics

By Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, National good practice initiative, Other, Public, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
Latvian School Olympiad in Informatics

24.10.2023

Each year, the Latvian National Centre for Education, together with LIKTA and with the support of companies in the Latvian ICT sector, organizes Latvian Olympiad in Informatics. Preparations for Olympiad, along with Latvian students’ participation in international coding Olympics, are coordinated and partly funded by the National Centre for Education (VISC), the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics at the University of Latvia, municipalities, and contributions from companies in the Latvian ICT sector.

Get to know the initiative

This event, known as the Latvian Olympiad in Informatics, is a multi-stage programming competition designed with the following objectives:

  • Broaden and deepen students’ programming knowledge, fostering additional enthusiasm for coding and encouraging extracurricular engagement.

  • Identify candidates for the Latvian National Unit to participate in international programming competitions.

  • Cultivate students’ interest in developing effective algorithms and programming skills.

The Olympiad is divided into two age groups: junior (8th to 10th grade students) and senior (11th to 12th grade students). The junior category is also open to students below the eighth grade. It consists of three stages:

  • Educational institution Olympiad

  • Municipality Olympiad: Participants who demonstrate outstanding performance in their educational institution’s Olympiad are invited to compete at the municipality level. Additionally, other students who have achieved commendable results in programming and possess sufficient programming skills may apply for this stage.

  • National Olympiad: Following the Municipality Olympiad, the organizing committee invites a maximum of 40 participants per age group based on their results.

At the conclusion of all stages of the Latvian Olympiad in Informatics, representatives are chosen to compete in the Baltic IT Olympiad, followed by the Global IT Olympiad.

Why is this a good practice?

The continued support of Latvian and international Olympiad by companies in the ICT sector is crucial. Such support encourages youth participation, promotes sectoral focus, and stimulates interest in coding and informatics.

Over the years, hundreds of students from schools across all Latvian regions have participated in the IT Olympiad, with many of the participants later pursuing professional careers in ICT.

  • The 36th International Informatics Olympiad IOI 2024 was held from September 1 to 8 in the Egyptian city of Alexandria, on the campus of the Academy of Arab Sciences, Technology and Maritime Transport.
  • Full results of both this and previous IOIs: https://stats.ioinformatics.org/
  • In the coming years, the Olympics will be held in Bolivia (2025), Uzbekistan (2026) and Germany (2027).
Details

Website

digital-skills-jobs.europa.eu

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills

Level

Advanced

Expert

Funding of the good practice

Public

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

24.10.2023

Digital Innovation Hub Latvia – digital skills partner community for Latvian regions

By Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, National good practice initiative, Other, Public-private, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
Digital Innovation Hub Latvia - digital skills partner community for Latvian regions

24.10.2023

The Digital Skills Community of Latvia’s regions was established in early 2022 with the objective of promoting up- and re-skilling initiatives to upgrade citizens’ digital competence, regardless of the region they live and work in. Another goal is to accelerate the digital transformation of Latvian economy and society and support innovation for public and private actors (municipalities, public bodies and institutions, companies, associations, etc). 

A digital skills community for Latvian regions

The main task of the Latvian Community is to monitor the digital transformation ecosystem in Latvia, and ensure no region is left behind. This includes cooperation with a wide range of actors and support to the services they offer, including: curricula, digital solutions, products and services. The community is also engaged in a variety of projects with a focus on digital, and set up digital trainings for citizens and the labour force on all levels (from basic to more advanced).

The community is comprised of key actors and organizations in the digital sphere in Latvia. They meet every month to plan and discuss upcoming activities – whether these are organized separately or as a result of a collaboration between several entities. Research and analysis on the latest trend in the area of digital skills and jobs are key to the knowledge base of the community, and background work conducted regularly.

Representatives of these organisations meet on a monthly basis to discuss the various activities planned, both individually and in cooperation with each other. Community stakeholders consider that research and analysis of digital skills is an essential prerequisite. This information can help the community to better understand digital skills needs and develop appropriate measures at both regional and national level.

Regional digital hubs most active in the Community

The community brings together regional hubs from all over Latvia, active in the promotion of digital skills. Some hubs stand out as more engaged, bringing results and added value. For example, Cēsu Digital Centre plays a key role in lifelong learning and digital training, whereas associations like the Digital Innovation Park bring together ICT professionals in a cluster. The Sigulda Technology Education Centre provides high-quality education services with a focus on engineering subjects, whereas the Kuldīga Digital Innovation Centre is a central smart technology hub, constantly looking for new talent. Ventspils Digital Centre has a more active role in e-governance actions. Finally, the Zemgale Human Resource and Competence Development Centre focuses on vocational education and training. The latter is also the largest, state-of-the-art centre for adult education in Latvia – both in terms of technical and human resources, but also in the context of the wide variety of educational offer.

European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs)

The network of European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) is part of the Digital Europe Programme of the European Union. EDIHs help to foster the digital transformation of businesses, i.e. the uptake of digital technologies by businesses, public administrations, and in general aim to improve citizens’ digital skills (with a focus on advanced digital skills). Such hubs operate in all EU Member States, so Latvia is also included in the overall European digital technology ecosystem. Two organizations have been granted EDIH status in Latvia – The Latvian IT cluster and the Latvian Digital Accelerator.

A digital maturity assessment is available for entrepreneurs interested in receiving EDIH support to give life to innovative ideas. The aim is to assess the digital maturity of a company and provide support to companies for the digital transformation of a business process or organization (or to public authorities that may require guidance in managing their digital transformation in a safe and secure way).

Why is this a good practice?

The network of hubs on regional level is based on the success of the larger European network of hubs. Within Latvia, the hubs have facilitated more than 30 local, regional, and international projects, supporting the digital development of Latvian businesses, encouraging the design of innovative IT solutions, and strengthening collaboration between all actors in the community: businesses, universities, associations and organizations.

The European Digital Innovation Hub offers a range of success stories in Latvia, like:

The Latvian Community has successfully demonstrated a sound understanding of the digital skills landscape in Latvia, and has a good amount of projects and joint initiatives behind its back. As a central point for reference in education, its members exchange knowledge, share teaching methodologies, learning resources and teaching materials.

The digital skills community of Latvian regions is an important resource for the development of digital skills in Latvia. Its sustainability depends on participants’ willingness to cooperate in sharing available resources and to invest in its development. By co-designing and implementing effective measures, the community can contribute to the growth of society’s digital skills, as well as to the digital transformation of Latvian businesses and the public sector. The sustainability and relevance of the initiative are highlighted in the list of partner organisations and public bodies presented below. Representatives of various organisations and institutions, including the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development,Ministry of Education and Science, European Digital Innovation Hub, Latvian Information and Communication Technology Association, Cēsu Digital Centre, Zemgale Region Human Resource and Competence Development Centre, Ventspils Digital Centre, Sigulda Technology Education Centre, Kuldīga Digital Innovation Centre, Digital Innovation Park and other stakeholders from across Latvia participate actively in the Community.

Details

Website

digital-skills-jobs.europa.eu

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills

Level

Basic

Middle

Advanced

Expert

Funding of the good practice

Public-private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

24.10.2023