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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.

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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

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

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

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

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

Digital Hub Denmark

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 Hub Denmark

18.10.2023

Digital Hub Denmark is Denmark’s information portal for the different target groups involved or active in the technology industry. Launched in 2018, the non-profit initiative aims to offer support to the Danish technological system and connect local and national digital talents and start-ups with European and global investors and hubs.

Another objective is to raise the overall profile of the Danish industry within the technological dimension, attract projects and contribute to the development of technological ecosystems, identified as essential for the future of the Danish economy. The organisation focuses on technological development in areas like finance, health, agriculture and food, property and retail, education, robotics, and the creative sector. It gathers data on these individual digital ecosystems to provide targeted and relevant advice to stakeholders and actors in the field.

About Digital Hub Denmark

The initiative also includes guidance and introduction to a series of topics, useful to anyone interested in studying, working and living in Denmark with a special focus on technology. Users can also find information on relevant jobs in the field, as well as relevant details on how to introduce one’s taxes in the public system, what immigration services are available. Further content on the Danish education and work scene, such as start-ups, industries and educational institutions is also available through Digital Hub Denmark.

Digital Hub Denmark has succeeded in building a thriving community and an environment with fast-growing technological ecosystems, and also facilitates funding and pooling of resources by investors. Deployed as one of Denmark’s main initiatives operating within the framework of Denmark’s digital growth strategy, Digital Hub Denmark advances national digitalisation policy, attracting digital talents throughout the world.

Why is this a good practice?

Since the start of the initiative, Digital Hub Denmark has been working to connect digital talent across Denmark to local, regional, EU and global labour market needs. Ultimately, the aim is to catapult Denmark’s best ICT experts to deliver future-proof solutions and up- and re-skill others. A database of over 20,000 aspiring talents in tech, eager to pursue opportunities within the Danish tech industry, has been created as a result.

Digital Hub Denmark has been instrumental in driving forward Denmark’s contribution towards reaching the targets of the EU Digital Decade of getting to 20 million ICT experts in Europe. The talent pool of digital experts in Denmark increased with 22% from 2021 to 2023. Digital Hub Denmark continues to address digital talent shortages – and is projected to reach 50,000 specialists by 2030, more than double its current figure.

Details

Website

digital-skills-jobs.europa.eu

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence
Big Data
Blockchain
Robotics
Virtual Reality
Cloud Computing

Level

Advanced

Expert

Funding of the good practice

Public-private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

18.10.2023

Bulgaria: TeenHack

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

01.10.2023

The aim of TeenHack Ruse 2023 is to tackle challenges that affect not only our country, but many countries around the world. It will provide an opportunity for students to design, develop and implement solutions to real world problems. There will be mentors to help teams and guest speakers to provide guidance on design and presentation skills.

The slogan for TeenHack Ruse 2023 is “Code to solve problems and give life to your dreams.”

When and where will it take place❓
TeenHack Ruse 2023 will run for 2 days from the morning of 27 October (Friday) to the evening of 28 October (Saturday). The hackathon will be held in attendance form, with the activities on 27 October 2023 (Friday) taking place in Hall 2.203 of Angel Kanchev University of Ruse, and the presentation of the teams will take place on 28 October 2023 (Saturday) in Siemens Hall, Second Campus of Ruse University.

Who can apply and how❓
The hackathon is open to young people interested in STEM, computer science, design, engineering, ICT and other fields. Teams should consist of a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 5 people. Teams are encouraged to ensure gender balance, thus encouraging girls’ participation in TeenHack Ruse 2023. To the extent possible, teams should include people with both technical and functional competencies.

 

Apply if:
● you are passionate about technology and innovation for positive social, economic and environmental impact
● you would like to promote access to safe digital information and content that protects minors, respects privacy and contributes to the well-being of people and the environment
● you are in a team of motivated people and want to develop your idea that contributes to sustainable development
● you understand and can create solutions that are highly useful and attractive to the wider community

EU CODE WEEK is celebrated for the second year in a row with the TeenHack hackathon.
EU CodeWeek is a grassroots movement that celebrates creativity, problem-solving and collaboration through coding and other tech activities. The idea is to make coding more accessible, show young and old how to bring ideas to life with code, demystify these skills and bring motivated people together to learn.

Details

Website

www.dev.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Digital skills

Software Engineering

Level

Basic

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

Dev.bg

01.10.2023

IT Education Foundation in Latvia — Start(it)

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
IT Education Foundation in Latvia — Start(it)

22.09.2023

IT Education Foundation was established in 2015 and the goals are to promote the Information Technology (IT) sector among schoolchildren as an option when choosing a future profession and to increase the number of children and students, who study programming in-depth in primary schools, secondary schools and universities. Likewise, the foundation is working to foster the development of the education system and economic processes nationally, promoting the Information Technology sector as the foundation of the future economy, as well as materially supporting schoolchildren and students learning about IT.

The IT Education Foundation experts have been actively following changes in education and, thanks to supporters and cooperation partners, have created various learning materials that are available free of charge to all teachers, students and other stakeholders.

Start(IT), BITS, Design & Technology are the best known IT Education Foundation projects

The IT Education Foundation’s first project Start(IT) is a social education project, whose goal is to develop schoolchildren’s digital skills. Start(IT) offers the public the chance to learn computing and programming basics free of charge on the portal www.startit.lv, which is annually visited by 60,000 unique users on average. On this portal, schoolchildren, students and teachers have access to computing teaching programmed and comprehensive teaching materials, which were tried and tested in 2015 in collaboration with the NCE in 153 Latvian schools. Likewise, Start(IT) regularly organises computing and programming courses and events led by various business mentors.

From September 2020 improved teaching content will gradually be introduced in all of Latvia’s schools along the approach being worked on in the project coordinated by the National Centre for Education (NCE), “A Competence Approach to Teaching Content” (Skola2030). The findings and examples obtained in the approbation of computing content devised by Start(IT) serve as the basis with which to develop the new teaching subject of computing, which will be one of the technology sector subject and will be taught in all schools from 1st grade onwards.

The IT Education Foundation’s second project BITS (Baltic IT Society) aims to attract the most capable students from abroad to Latvia’s best IT study programmes. This is necessary in order to reach the 3,000 ICT graduates a year required by the job market, as well as to increase the quality of studies and their competitiveness globally.

The Latvian mobile communications operator SIA Latvijas Mobilais Telefons (LMT) and innovations quarter VEFRESH see the opportunity to help to prepare secondary school teachers to teach the subject “Design and Technologies”, so in December 2019 the decision was made to join the IT Education Foundation and to devise a new third project. The teaching subject “Design and Technologies” will replace the erstwhile teaching subject “Home Economics and Technologies” and schools will have the chance to offer it as an optional subject in secondary schools.

Why are the Fund and its projects necessary?

Firstly, demand for IT specialists is growing not only in Latvia, but also elsewhere in Europe. To increase the number of IT specialists in Latvia, the subject of computing needs to be taught in school including programming. Likewise, impressions of programming need to be changed and pupils need to be encouraged to study and work in the IT sector.

Secondly, at present the majority of schoolchildren do not have the opportunity to learn the subject of programming. In order to make this skill, which is so useful in the job market even more accessible, the IT Education Foundation organises teacher trainings so that programming is taught in as many schools as possible.

Finally, we want to encourage the development of the digital skills of schoolchildren, students and every member of the Latvian population. Modern technologies are becoming ubiquitous. Therefore, with every passing day it becoming increasingly vital to practice them every day not only at work, but also at home.

The IT Education Foundation has received several awards and recognitions:

  • In 2016 for its outstanding contribution to education Start(IT) received the AmCham Latvia award “For Personal Growth”;
  • In 2017 Start(IT) received the Accenture Global Awards award;
  • In 2018 UNESCO recognized Start(IT) as one of the 12 best IT education projects.

The IT Education Foundation’s founders are Accenture Latvia, Riga Technical University and MAK IT. The foundation’s supporters are Emergn, EazyBI, Latvian Mobilais Telefons (LMT), ZAB Reihmanis & Partneri, VEFRESH and VISMA. The foundation’s cooperation partners are the National Centre for Education (VISC), Skola2030, Printful, Elements of AI,Riga TechGirls, the Latvian Information and Communication Technology Association (LIKTA), the University of Latvia, the Transport and Telecommunication Institute, Latvian Informatics Teachers’ Association, Riga State 1st Gymnasium, Riga 22nd Secondary School, Baltic3D.eu and the portal Skolens.lv.

The foundation is one of the most successful examples of cooperation between the private and public sector, which testifies to the fact that businesses are interested in supporting the foundation’s initiatives, as well as in getting involved in the development of contemporary teaching content.

Follow the foundation on the social media platforms Youtube, Instagram, Facebook.

Details

Website

digital-skills-jobs.europa.eu

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence
Robotics
Software
Digital skills

Level

Basic

Middle

Advanced

Funding of the good practice

Public-private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

22.09.2023

Cyber Security Quiz Austria

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
Cyber Security Quiz Austria

14.08.2023

The Cyber Security Quiz is a free learning tool that enables people to learn playfully and interactively how to protect themselves from fraud or attacks on the internet. The quiz is available as a desktop application and as a mobile app for Android and iOS and can be played anywhere at any time.

The topics of the quiz include technical threats such as different forms of malware and ransomware, as well as updates and recommended backup solutions (also for mobile devices). Protection from fraud (phishing, subscription traps, fake online shops, CEO fraud etc.) is also discussed and various solutions for data protection are presented, including practical aspects like how to set good passwords, how to shape reputation on the internet and how to make suitable privacy settings. Cyberbullying and hate speech on the internet are also the focus of a special quiz module. In addition, basic information on copyright and creative commons are presented.

Special quiz modules are dedicated to specific situations such as teleworking from home (this topic covers framework conditions, data storage and data encryption as well as secure WLAN connection and suitable forms of internal communication), internet safety for children (including technical forms of child protection, computer games, and the problem of online addiction) and also online shopping (including methods of payment, buying medicine online and identifying advertisements).

The quiz is aimed at citizens who are interested in the topic “security on the internet” and anyone interested in improving their digital skills.

In addition to the learning content, users have the opportunity to practice what they learned and compete in a quiz duel against other users. The questions in the quiz are based on the Digital Competence Framework for Austria — DigComp 2.2 AT.

The contents “Smartphone”, “Keeping children safe online”, “Online shopping”, “Copyright” and “Home-Office” were recently added with the financial support of the Chamber of Labour of Lower Austria.

By March 2022, the app had already over 6.000 registered users. With a view to further sustainable use, the app was submitted for the “Lernapp” quality label. Various dissemination activities via the press, radio and television were implemented around Safer Internet Day in February 2022.

Types of use of the quiz

In the first step, the learning contents of the Cyber Security Quiz are developed in the library. The knowledge is conveyed using an introduction and concrete scenarios.

Afterwards, the acquired knowledge can be practiced by answering quiz questions. For this purpose, ten questions are asked, which are randomly selected from a diverse pool of questions. Incorrectly answered questions are asked again with repeated practice until they have been answered correctly three times.

After working through the learning content and answering the practice questions, the newfound knowledge is trained playfully. It can be played in the form of a quiz duel against other users.

License

The contents of the Cyber Security Quiz are made available to the public under the license “CC BY-NC 3.0 AT”. More information can be found on the website of ovos media GmbH.

Awards

The Cyber Security Quiz was awarded the eAward in the category “Education and Human Resources Development” in October 2021.

In addition, fit4internet was awarded the prestigious Human Resources Management Award 2020 in Germany for its integrated skills training measures “secCHECK empowers female employees”, which also includes the Cyber Security Quiz.

Details

Website

digital-skills-jobs.europa.eu

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity

Level

Advanced

Expert

Funding of the good practice

Public-private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

14.08.2023

Women in IT Career Day – Poland

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
Women in IT Career Day - Poland

20.07.2023

Women in IT Career Day is a free online conference for women who are interested in new technologies and want to develop in this direction. The event is attended by leaders of the Polish IT industry and experts in motivation and development.

Get to know the initiative

Women in IT Career Day consists of 8 intensive hours filled with speeches, debates, workshops, and speed mentoring, as well as a solid dose of knowledge, motivation, and inspiration. The guests include top women leaders of the Polish IT industry and experts on motivation and development. In 2022 year, they prepared two paths for attendees:

  • RESTART involves workshops and panel discussions dedicated to women who are at the beginning of their journey to change their professional lives and enter IT.
  • UP:GREAT is for women who have been in the industry for years and are wondering how to climb to the top.

The event was dedicated to women who are at different stages of their IT careers and want to consciously shape their career path:

  • Working in IT but not sure what to do next
  • Already have the right skills and want to get your first job in a new, future-proof industry
  • Looking for inspiration, motivation, and knowledge to reach for more

Why is Women in IT Career Day a good practice?

The Women in IT Career Day 2022 event showcased remarkable figures, with each aspect contributing to its resounding success. Boasting over 2,800 registrations per event, the initiative attracted a diverse audience eager to engage in IT careers.

The conference featured an impressive lineup of 94 speakers, whose expertise inspired attendees. Attendees also benefited from 21 enriching workshops and sessions, as well as 13 speed mentoring sessions, fostering professional growth and guidance.

The event’s reach was amplified through the support of 10 main partners, solidifying its significance in the industry. Seven dynamic discussion panels sparked meaningful dialogues, while two power speeches and two lectures further enriched the event’s knowledge-sharing endeavors.

Solidarity with Ukraine

The war in Ukraine must not go unnoticed at the Women in IT Career Day.  Therefore, the panel discussions on the main stage were translated into Ukrainian, and dedicated path for Ukrainian women – which included workshops, lectures, speed mentoring and recruitment meetings. Notably, over 400 women from Ukraine actively participated, highlighting the event’s international impact.

Women in IT Career Day 2023

The 5th edition of Women’s Day in IT Career Day will take place in November 2023. In this year’s edition, the word International will be added to the name of the event, because in addition to cooperation with Ukraine, will be joined by partners from Europe. The event is going to be online with aim to provide accessibility to all women despite their location or disability, as well as to lessen the environmental impact.

In this edition, two partners will join for international cooperation: Digital Europe and the European Women’s Association.

Details

Website

digital-skills-jobs.europa.eu

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Telecommunications
Software
Digital transformation

Level

Advanced

Expert

Funding of the good practice

Public-private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

20.07.2023

EIT Digital

By Country providing the good practice, EU institutional good practice initiative, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, Other, Public-private, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
EIT Digital

19.07.2023

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) is an independent European body comprising 8 different innovation communities in key sectoral areas such as agriculture, climate and environment, technology and other key sectors and industries. EIT Digital, the centre responsible for managing digital and technological innovation, offers a range of digital skills resources available on the community’s website, organised according to the EIT’s focus areas: 1) Digital Industry, 2) Digital Cities, 3) Digital Prosperity, 4) Digital Technology and 5) Digital Finance.

In addition to a number of events and activities such as hackathons and awards, EIT Digital also organises the EIT Digital Academy programme, which consists of four different formal education structures (Master School, Industrial Doctoral School, Summer School and Professional School). All educational programmes, regardless of specialisation, combine high-level digital skills training with entrepreneurial knowledge. The EIT Master’s programme combines digital skills with digital skills in eight different specialisations, and minor skills in innovation and entrepreneurship. At doctoral level, participation is also based on a focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as geographical mobility and alignment with other EIT innovation areas. The Summer Schools are aimed at professionals, Masters, PhD students and other students and focus on the EIT’s digital domains.

EIT Digital aims to achieve global impact through innovation and technology solutions developed in Europe, to foster the development of global digital talent and skills in emerging technologies, to create a test bed for innovation and to bring to market innovative solutions that can make a significant contribution to their intended sector. “EIT Digital also supports enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs to fully benefit from the impact of digital transformation in services and processes and to ensure that they are at the forefront of digital innovation;

A pan-European network of more than 200 organisations, businesses, SMEs, research institutes, universities and start-ups, EIT Digital enables students, researchers and entrepreneurs to collaborate in an open innovation environment and develop solutions that have a positive impact. The EIT ecosystem’s offshoots are: Amsterdam, Berlin, Braga, Budapest, Brussels, Brussels, Eindhoven, Edinburgh, Helsinki, London, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Nice, Paris, Rhine, Stockholm, Trento and San Francisco. Through the ARISE Europe programme, EIT Digital operates in Southern and South-Eastern Europe, Central and Eastern Europe, in order to be able to operate in regions where the organisation is not yet established.

As a pan-European initiative launched by the European Union, the impact of EIT Digital has been significant, spanning a wide range of sectors and societal groups. Skills development programmes and training promote the simultaneous development of information technology (IT) and entrepreneurial skills. EIT Digital graduates are well absorbed by the European and global labour market and are successfully securing employment. The initiative has become more successful: there is currently a high level of competition for applicants for the EIT Digital Academy places; in addition, the organisation has organised a range of courses through Coursera which are open to the general public and free of charge (for auditing), thus strengthening its outreach activities. The combination of online and face-to-face programmes further contributes to the programme’s outreach. As of 2019, EIT Digital brings together more than 270 partners and provides an easy-to-navigate website with a clear overview of learning opportunities and examples. Between 2011 and 2019, nearly 3 000 students participated in PhD and Masters programmes, and Coursera’s online capabilities have helped to reach another 100 000 learners.

 

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

Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity

Digital skills

Robotic

Level

Basic

Middle

Advanced

Expert

Funding of the good practice

Public-private

Type of initiative of the good practice

International initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

Start date

01.01.2010

19.07.2023

ALL DIGITAL WEEK

By Country providing the good practice, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION, INSPIRATION: Good practices, International good practice initiative, Other, Public-private, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
ALL DIGITAL WEEK

11.07.2023

All Digital Week is one of the key EU-wide awareness-raising campaigns on digital skills that engages the citizens of 36 countries in Europe through various national activities taking place in participating countries. In Lithuania, the campaign over the last 3 years or so has been organised under the flag of the ‘Connected Lithuania’ project, an initiative whose goal is to raise the skills and competences of everyone in Lithuania. The All Digital Week usually takes place in the last week of March each year, with the aim of introducing people to ICT opportunities, their potential, and the importance of digital competence in all sectors.

Digital Week events take place in 36 countries in many locations: Digital Competence Centres, libraries, schools, community centres and others, bringing together a large team of partners since the start of the campaign in 2010. Each year, All Digital Week gets more than 100.000 participants together. In Lithuania, a big focus of All Digital Week is on good practices in digital skills in education that can be used and replicated by schools, institutions, libraries, teachers and educators, to support their individual activities.

Why do we need a digital week in Europe?

According to the Digital Economy and Society Indicators (DESI) report, the survey results on fake news and disinformation online, the survey results on the impact of digitalisation and automation on everyday life, digital skills may be the way forward, but Europe still has quite a bit to go. Close to half of EU citizens (43%) do not have sufficient digital skills – and therefore may miss out on growing employment opportunities. Another 35% of people in the EU lack even basic digital skills – and 13% of Europeans are still not using the Internet.

A growing number of EU citizens (29%) are sceptical in their ability to recognise disinformation. And concerns about automation also run high, with 72% of Europeans worried that a robot may replace their livelihood.

The Lithuanian experience: zooming on results

As a general rule, the topics of the Digital Week campaign revolve around several competence areas all linked to digital skills: media literacy, the development of critical thinking, digital literacy, safe online behaviors, and promoting digital skills for digital jobs. 

In Lithuania, the Digital Weeks are organized under the framework of the national ‘Connected Lithuania’ project. So how did the campaigns take place over these 3 years and what was the engagement?

Digital skills resources for teachers and educators in Lithuania

The following materials may be of interest to teachers, schools, school administrators, VET teachers and trainers and educators in general. They can also help to organize an activity under the framework of the Digital Week in Lithuania. The resources listed below include good practices in increasing learners’ digital skills as well in integrating digital technologies in teaching and learning. Materials include: video recordings from lessons, discussions, self-assessment tests, and materials adapted from previous educational activities.

Details

Website

Digital week in Lithuania- resources

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital technology

Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity

Level

Basic

Funding of the good practice

Public-private

Type of initiative of the good practice

International initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

Organisation providing the good practice

LIKTA

Start date

01.03.2019

End date

31.03.2022

11.07.2023

Girls own STEM! – Croatia

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
Girls own STEM! - Croatia

30.05.2023

Girls Own STEM! is an initiative by the Croatian association Bioteka, a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting science in education. The NGO aims to raise awareness of topics like biology, ecology, nature, health, science, and environmental protection, and encourages collaboration amongst scientists, public bodies and social actors in Croatia. Girls own STEM! brings together girls between the ages of 14 to 18, who have focused on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects over the last 2 years in schools, and therefore have a solid foundational knowledge of biology, IT, physics, chemistry or mathematics. A strong focus remains on the most vulnerable – notably, most participants in the initiative come from lower socio-economic backgrounds. We delve further into this below. 

Background and context

In 2023, Bioteka brought together 50 girls interested in STEM – through calls sent to schools, municipalities and cities and some other associations with various initiatives in all Croatian counties. The idea, according to Jelena Likić, President of Bioteka and Girls own STEM project manager, is to empower girls to develop their own local projects to address an environmental, social or economic problem that is palpably important for their regions. Around 20 projects were already implemented by mid-2023 with the rest in preparation phase. Another highlight was the opportunity to bring all participants for a 3-day bootcamp get-together in January and early February of 2023.

Why is this a good practice?

The Girls own STEM! initiative is the result of numerous efforts of the association Bioteka to address some of the most vulnerable segments of Croatian society. Most participants come from parents, adoptive parents, or guardians receive social aid. Some girls are members of minorities (religious, ethnic, sexual orientation, gender identity, etc). A strong focus is also placed on engaging girls with disabilities and special needs (visual or hearing impairments). The project also tackles regional disparities: in cooperation with local authorities, city council, and industry representatives, Girls own STEM! takes under its wing young people that have access to fewer activities due to the limited possibility their regions can offer.

Examples of successful projects are plenty. Two beekeeping projects were especially successful. Their aim? To raise the population of bees in Zagreb, Samobor and surrounding villages and raise awareness amongst the local community of their importance. One girl in the Jastrebarski region of Croatia proposed that first aid boxes with basic medical equipment be installed in several places in the city, similar to the defibrillators we can find in some public garages. Public first aid boxes would be used in emergency situations to repair minor injuries, as most people rarely carry bandages, sterile compresses, scissors and related paraphernalia.

The project is key in bridging the digital divide in Croatia and promoting labour efficiency. Girls own STEM! wants to provide girls with a range of options to develop the skills they lack and improve others (like critical thinking or problem-solving skills). This is key especially in the context of changing realities in the job market, where it is hard to predict what skills needs will be apparent in the coming years. Girls also receive mentorship support on shaping the project proposals, review documentation, and keep track of important milestones.

Girls own STEM! is implementing the Bioteka project with financial support from 3M through the GlobalGiving international foundation, and since December 2022 the project donors have joined MET Croatia Energy Trade.

Find out more

Interested and in need of more information? Head over to the initiative’s page and don’t forget to check out their Facebook page for the latest updates. The projects already developed under the initiative can be viewed here, and another list is located here.

Details

Website

digital-skills-jobs.europa.eu

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital Skills

Level

Basic

Funding of the good practice

Public-private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

Start date

23.11.2022

End date

31.05.2024

30.05.2023

DigiBEST – research and promotion of digital transformation for SMEs

By Country providing the good practice, EU Initiatives, EU institutional good practice initiative, Funding of the good practice, INSPIRATION: Good practices, Other, Public-private, Type of initiative of the good practiceNo Comments
DigiBEST - research and promotion of digital transformation for SMEs

17.05.2022

In 2019, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of Latvia (MoEPRD)  launched the Digital Transformation of Business Environment project (Digi BEST), implementing the European Structural and Investment Funds Objective for territorial cooperation (INTERREG EUROPE – Interregional cooperation program – 2014-2020). Seven partners from six countries/regions are participating in the project: Austria, Italy, Latvia, Norway, Portugal and Spain (partner countries). The University of Latvia is participating in the project as an advisory partner.

The initiative aims to promote and support the competitiveness of SMEs and offer solutions for the digital transformation (DT) of SMEs in European rural areas, using modern technologies and new innovative business methods, and promoting sustainable and inclusive growth in Europe and its regions.

In the first phase, from August 2019 to July 2022, the state of play for SMEs digital transformation process was assessed, for each partner country, also raising awareness and sharing experience on challenges and needs and supporting an interregional learning process around these topics. As a result of the first phase, each project partner developed an Action Plan related to their chosen Policy Instrument to strengthen the digital transformation in business. The second phase of the project was carried out from August 2022 to July 2023 and implemented the defined Action Plan.

The total funding of the project is more than 1.5 Million Euro.

DigiBEST project in Latvia

The initiative established a working group with representatives from the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, the State Employment Agency, the Union of Local Governments of Latvia, Vidzeme, Kurzeme, Riga and Zemgale regions, Jelgava Municipality, Zemgale Region Competence Development Center, Jelgava Region, Latvia Information and Communication Technology Association, Latvian IT Cluster, Latvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Latvian Employers’ Confederation, Latvian Open Technology Association, Ventspils Digital Center, ans Latvian Investment and Development Agency.

The Digital Transformation Guidelines for 2021-2027 outline how Latvian companies do not fully use their digitalization potential yet (Latvian business is behind EU average and no significant progress has been made in the integration of digital technologies in companies). Latvian companies are still under-exploiting the potential of online sales of goods and services, lagging significantly behind the EU average in terms of percentage of e-commerce revenue from SMEs. Only 11% of SMEs sell goods online, below the EU average of 17.5%. The share of SMEs trading across borders is still below the EU average as well, with only 6.6% of all SMEs compared to 8.4% in the EU as a whole and only an average of 5.3% of SME revenue comes from the online segment. Businesses have limited use of electronic information exchange, e-cloud computing and social media, and only 7.7% of businesses use big data.

The DigiBEST initiative has tackled these challenges with various national activities.

A Regional Study about digital transformation and its impact on SMEs, including surveys with entrepreneurs and managers was carried out, followed by a Peer Review exercise involving experts from Norway and Austria to assess Latvian SMEs digital transformation and provide conclusions and recommendations on how to promote it in Latvia, also improving the impact of policy instruments (ERDF and Recovery and Resilience Facility). During the implementation of the project, examples of good practice were also identified – both in Latvia and in the partner countries –  to promote exchange of experiences and transfer of knowledge. Finally, 6 working group meetings and 15 individual meetings with stakeholders were organized, to actively involve them in the activities, since stakeholders play an important role in the implementation.

As results of these activities, a Business Digital Roadmap (Roadmap) was developed, as a tool to help decision making to build the Action Plan. Furthermore, as result of the recommendations, a regional Action Plan for 2022-2023 was defined, which includes various actions: one-stop platform towards SMEs Digital Transformation, Knowledge bank with useful resources for entrepreneurs and a SME Digital Maturity Test to provide individual consultation and trainings. These activities are being implemented by the Latvian Investment and Development Agency and the Latvian IT Cluster.

DigiBEST projectvideo.

@DigiBEST project

Details

Website

digital-skills-jobs.europa.eu

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Digital Skills

Level

Middle

Advanced

Expert

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

Date

01.08.2019

17.05.2022

Training of civil servants in Cloud Computing Technologies- Greece

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
Training of civil servants in Cloud Computing Technologies- Greece

16.05.2022

Training of civil servants in Cloud Computing Technologies is a skilling and upskilling initiative which was launched in Greece in December 2021. It is coordinated by the Ministry of Digital Governance, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, the National Centre for Public Administration and Local Government and Microsoft, in the framework of the activities of the Greek National Coalition for Digital Skills and Jobs. The initiative aims to train public civil servants on topics related to cloud technologies and digital literacy.

These training programmes primarily adress executive managers in Public Administration and Local Government, who have an educational background related to ICT. The training programmes cover a variety of topics, involving mainly the use of Azure (e.g. Azure Data Fundamentals, Azure AI Fundamentals, Azure Security Technologies, Azure Engineer Associates, and many more), as well as courses about security and internet protection (e.g. Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals, Security Operations Analyst Associate, Information Protection Administrator Associate).

From June 2021, more than 73 training courses have been completed and over 2.000 Greek public sector executives have been trained. The long-term goal of this initiative is to train more than 20,000 civil servants in basic and specialised digital skills in cloud technologies, by the end of 2025.

The outcomes of this initiative have direct impact on many aspects of the involved publication administrations in Greece. On one hand, for the first time civil servants have access to specific training in cutting edge technologies, such as cloud computing as a strategic choice for the country’s digital transformation. As cloud services are continuously developing, Microsoft’s role in this partnership ensures that civil servants are continuously updated on cloud technologies. This wa cloud technology literacy will be accessible to all civil servants, since the courses are open also to regional and local authorities’ employees. Furthermore, this programme supports the adoption of cloud technologies in the Greek public sector. Cloud technologies offer unlimited opportunities for data savings and public bodies do not have to purchase software or expensive servers and data storage facilities, therefore, as a result, operational costs and bureaucratic burdens can be reduced. Finally, the adoption of cloud technologies promotes the digitisation of public administration and contributes to digital governance.

There are numerous factors that guarantee the sustainability of this initiative. There is a variety of actors (three from the public sector and one from the private sector) coming together to implement a long-term public policy, and there is a central planning with specific targets. Each partner brings in their own remit and expertise. The Ministry of Digital Governance is the authority in charge for the digital transformation strategy in Greece; the Ministry of the Interior is responsible for human resources development in the Greek public sector; and the National Centre for Public Administration and Local Government is the strategic training agency for civil servants and employees of regional and local administrative authorities. Furthermore, Microsoft’s participation,  through its corporate initiative ‘GR for Growth’, ensures that the training courses are aligned with the latest digital technology. Microsoft is a pioneer in cloud technologies and offers a number of digital business tools that help users improve their digital literacy, better organise their work, be interactive and create. In conclusion, this initiative has great potential for success an it can be used as a good example of synergies between the public and private sector.

Finally, this initiative is aligned with the Digital Transformation Bible 2020-2025, the national strategic document for the digital transformation of Greece for the period 2020-2025, as one of the objectives of the strategic pillar “Digital skills and competences”. One of the objectives of this pillar is to improve civil servants certified digital skills.

Details

Website

digital-skills-jobs.europa.eu

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital technology

Cloud Computing
Digital skills

Level

Basic

Middle

Advanced

Funding of the good practice

Public-private

Type of initiative of the good practice

National initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

Organisation providing the good practice

Ministry of Digital Governance of Greece
Greek Ministry of Interior
National Centre for Public Administration and Local Government (Greece)
Microsoft

Start date

08.12.2021

End date

31.12.2025

16.05.2022

Digital Opportunity Traineeships

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

29.05.2023

Funded by the European Commission, the  Digital Opportunity Traineeships is a training initiative that acts as a bridge between students and digital talents on one side, and companies and prospective employers on the other. The ultimate aim of the initiative is to connect companies with digitally competent candidates, and this translates to virtually any sector in the EU. Direct technology experience is now needed for tech fields like cybersecurity, machine learning, big data and others. These emerging technologies are increasingly integrated in different sectors: from manufacturing and farming, to health and financial services.  Participants can also opt to enrol in placements with a focus on web design and development or software to enhance their digital skills in a business context.

A computer-literate workforce is vital to maintain Europe’s global competitiveness in a fast-changing world

The Digital Opportunity Traineeships was launched in 2018 under the umbrella of Erasmus+ and received funding from the European Union Horizon 2020 programme. The initiative aims to tackle the high levels of youth unemployment by bridging the skills gap between the workforce and recruiters, and connecting students to prospective employers abroad. At the same time, the initiative also supports business and SMEs, who often experience time and resource constraints and struggle to find digitally competent employees. The goal of the Digital Opportunity Traineeships is to inspire students and graduate from all disciplines, not just the ones with a technology focus, to embark on traineeships in order to strengthen their digital competences, increase their employability prospects and provide them with an opportunity to gain valuable experience abroad. The traineeships can also be combined with a study period abroad and can last anytime from 2 to 12 months. For more intensive subjects such as architecture or medicine, traineeships may be extended to 24 months.

Who can apply for the DOTs?

To be eligible for the Digital Opportunity Traineeships, you must be a recent graduate, based in one of the Erasmus+ Programme Countries, or a student, participating in higher education mobility activities in one of the following countries (hyperlink same as previous). More information and eligibility considerations can be found through local participating universities. Trainees receive financial support, averaging around €500 per month, with the exact amount depending on the country of residence. Grants are generally managed through the individual universities and do not require funding on the side of businesses (companies have the option of topping up the grants).

Why is this a good practice?

The Digital Opportunity Traineeships initiative is a good practice not only in terms of its success in fostering the development of advanced digital skills, but also in relation to its strong link with facilitating employment prospects. It has a wide outreach: the platform offers a way for students to locate relevant traineeships abroad, not only limited to a specific emerging technologies, but also to related ICT areas like digital marketing or general IT skills. As of January 2021, the platform collates more than 180 opportunities throughout Europe, both online and face-to-face. The programme has also succeeded in building a strong base of relevant and active stakeholders from more than 30 countries. The Digital Opportunity Traineeships is a scalable initiative in the context of the target group of students, and offers an easy-to-search and navigate database.

Details

Website

digital-skills-jobs.europa.eu

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

 Artificial Intelligence
Cybersecurity
Internet of Things
Big Data
Blockchain
Robotics
Augmented Reality
Virtual Reality
High Performance Computing
Machine Learning
Cloud Computing
5G
Telecommunications
WiFi
Quantum Computing
Software
Mobile Application Development
Web Development
Microelectronics
Digital skills

Level

Advanced

Expert

Funding of the good practice

Public-private

Type of initiative of the good practice

International initiative

Country providing the good practice

Other

29.05.2021

FILTER BY AUDIENCE

For all
For children
In education
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FILTER BY TECHNOLOGY

Cybersecurity
AI & ML
AR & VR
Basic digital skills

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TECHNOVATION 2023

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For all, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
TECHNOVATION 2023

03.05.2023 |

ELEVATE. INTEGRATE. ACCELERATE.

 

ABOUT THE EVENT

Following the success of the first edition of Technovation, Manager magazine is preparing the second edition in 2023. This year’s Technovation event will discuss how the sector is developing in Bulgaria and around the world, as well as what investors are looking for and how to enter foreign markets. What kind of relationship will we develop with artificial intelligence? What does the next generation of technology have in store for us? How will the fintech scene evolve? What are some successful examples of creating new business opportunities through innovation?

In 4 discussion panels, leading executives and experts with recognized authority will discuss how technology is improving the business environment.

Audience: C-level reps/decision makers from tech companies as well as other sectors – retail, trade, heavy and light industry, transportation, healthcare; entrepreneurs; investors; consumers with a passion for technology.

Distribution: The event is being recorded and videos from the individual panels will be posted a few days after the event on manager.bg, Facebook and LinkedIn.

 

This year’s tech event will look at:

  • How the sector is developing in Bulgaria and around the world, as well as what investors are looking for and how to enter foreign markets?
  • What relationships will we develop with artificial intelligence?
  • What does the next generation of technology have in store for us?
  • How will the fintech scene evolve?
  • What are some successful examples of creating new business opportunities through innovation?

 

PROGRAMME:

  • Panel One: Investments in tech: staying ahead
  • Panel Two: AI era: Hello, I am here
  • Panel Three: Fintech 2023: What’s coming?
  • Panel Four: Flying in the clouds

Details of the topics, panelists and a registration form for free attendance in the room can be found here.

Details

Website

www.manager.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Software Engineering

Web Development

Big Data

Telecommunications

Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity

5G

12.05.2023

THE BEST TEACHING PRACTICES FOR THE YEAR WERE AWARDED AT THE LARGEST EDUCATIONAL FORUM IN BULGARIA

By AI & ML, Audience, Basic digital skills, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, In education, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
THE BEST TEACHING PRACTICES FOR THE YEAR WERE AWARDED AT THE LARGEST EDUCATIONAL FORUM IN BULGARIA

03.05.2023 |

Over 400 teachers, principals and education experts took part in this year’s edition of the educational event “Best Practices in Focus” on 29 and 30 April in Sofia.

Art Therapy Studio to improve students’ emotional competencies; project-based learning to celebrate the holidays of different ethnicities in school and develop tolerance among students; a student portfolio in biology to develop scientific literacy, short-term memory and motivation; and a comprehensive school strategy for environmental education and developing awareness of global challenges related to climate change. These are the educational practices that were rated highest in this year’s Best Practices in Focus competition. For the second year in a row, the competition collects, describes and promotes good examples of the work of teachers in Bulgaria.

The awards were presented on 29 April in Sofia during the largest educational event of the same name, which brought together more than 400 teachers, principals and educational experts to exchange experiences, inspiration, practical workshops and search for new approaches to engage students in the 21st century.

The organizers of the competition and the final event “Good Practices in Focus” are the Foundation “Together in class” and the educational website prepodavame.bg.

The winning practices are reviewed and evaluated by an expert jury of over 40 people. In the selection criteria, they look for practices that are effective, sustainable and improve the well-being of children, promote youth participation and support students’ academic progress.

“We often talk about what is not happening in Bulgarian classrooms, what needs to be changed and fixed. This gives the wrong impression that meaningful and inspiring things are not happening. With Good Practices in Focus, we want to show just how much resource and potential there is in the country’s schools. We have received many good examples that we believe will be useful for teachers in other schools – to find inspiration, to find like-minded people and to look for new opportunities to be even more helpful to their pupils.”

In addition to jury awards, audience awards and additional special awards were presented to some of the partners in the event.

In the program of the event, in addition to the awarding of the best practices, teachers from all over the country had the opportunity to participate in an important discussion on how we provide quality education to all students with the participation of Anelia Andreeva from the National Inspectorate of Education, representatives of the World Bank and education experts. [recording of the discussion coming soon]

After the discussion, the forum participants drew on the experience of Dr. Rima Shore, head of the Bank Street College of Education in New York. She inspired the attendees with a lecture on “Empowering Teachers”, which focused on the power and impact of teacher empowerment [lecture recording coming soon]. She also led two hands-on workshops on strategies for improving student well-being and progress and adapting best practices from elsewhere. The workshops were highly appreciated by teachers and helped many of them to imagine how they could innovate more in their teaching practice.

In addition to the international guest, the teachers at the forum learned experientially through practical workshops prepared by teachers from Sofia, Varna, Staza Zagora, Knezha, S. Bohot, S. Rumyantsevo.

The first day of the event also introduced teachers to over 30 educational organizations and initiatives during a special educational exhibition.

More about the event and a full list of the award winners can be found here.

Details

Website

www.zaednovchas.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills

12.05.2023

REGISTRATION FOR THE COMPETITION “DIGITAL INNOVATORS IN EDUCATION” OPENS

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Basic digital skills, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, In education, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
REGISTRATION FOR THE COMPETITION "DIGITAL INNOVATORS IN EDUCATION" OPENS

03.05.2023 |

Traditionally, the campaign and the award ceremony will be held under the patronage of the Minister of Education and Science

From today, 3 May 2023, the registration for the Digital Innovators in Education Teacher Competition 2023, organised by BAIT for the fourth consecutive year, will open.

The aim of the competition is to reward and encourage best practices in the use of digital content, the connection of schools with business and the preparation for the establishment of STEM centers. The competition is looking for teachers – digital innovators, teaching from 1st to 12th grade.

All teachers, including assistant teachers, teaching students from 1st to 12th grade in all subjects included in the curricula of the Ministry of Education can participate. Any teacher may apply or be nominated* in one or more categories. (*Nominations also require completion of all fields on the application form, as well as supporting evidence.)

Registration in the competition is done by submitting an Application Form.

Deadline for registration: 26.05.2023 by 17:00.

Links to posts, testimonials, comments from students and parents on Facebook, LinkedIn, learning platforms, received via email, test scores, videos, links to materials and videos will be accepted.

The competition will determine award winners in the following 4 categories:

1.Technological Innovation:

  • Application of ICT in the overall learning process – tests, homework, visualization and examples;
  • Additional technological innovations – simulation environments, automation, generation of unique tests with the same degree of difficulty (scoring and individualization), authorship check;
  • Use of special technological tools in extracurricular activities – 3D printers, computer aided design systems /CAD systems/, virtual reality, etc.;
  • Contribution to the learning of the material (comparison of test results with previous years).

2. Quality learning content:

  • Interactive presentation of content: engaging students in the delivery and preparation of the lesson;
  • Learning through fun with a platform based on games and building different worlds that encourages creativity, collaboration and problem solving /games, quizzes and other forms with a competitive element/;
  • Feedback from parents , students and guest speakers;
  • Multiple use by other teachers and/or schools.

3. Practical orientation of information technology teaching:

  • Teacher participation in the Business Teaches NP (by updating knowledge and introducing examples from practice to enhance the practical focus of teaching and/or using practitioners as teaching assistants, guest lecturers). Using practical examples and knowledge of new technologies acquired during training in companies in the teaching process;
  • Other forms of collaboration with business to make classroom learning more practical;
  • Extracurricular forms of cooperation with business – internships, workshops and visits to companies.

4. Contribute to a quality STEM center:

  • Preparing for the use of the STEM center in the learning process;
  • Preparation of attractive and interactive content for after-school activities/clubs;
  • Preparing teachers to successfully use the technology tools in the STEM center;
  • Programs to generate interest in STEM;
  • STEM Skills Formation Programs.

The jury, which includes the members of the Management and Supervisory Boards of BAIT, will award the best applications from 1st to 3rd place in each of the four categories.

The winners will be awarded at an official ceremony at TechnoMagicLand on 27.06.2023.

Details

Website

www.bait.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Software Engineering

Telecommunications

Web Development

Big Data

Mobile apps

Digital Marketing

Artificial Intelligence

Digital Skills

12.05.2023

WORDPRESS. MAT THAT THREW THE INTERNET INTO JAZZ

By 5G & WiFi, Audience, Basic digital skills, For all, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, Media literacy, NEWS, Software engineering, Technology, Web developmentNo Comments
WORDPRESS. MAT THAT THREW THE INTERNET INTO JAZZ

12.05.2023 |

The story of WordPress is curious and exciting, it is one of those rare series of events that show how beautiful life online can be and what amazing possibilities it creates.

Today, different programming languages, platforms, and libraries are multiplying faster than ever, which is why it’s especially impressive that more than 1/3 of the sites on the Internet today are based… on the same technology. And it’s jazz-related.

WordPress came along at the right time to become the venture that allowed anyone to make their well-designed website easily and without digging deep. The story is particularly interesting, Matt Mullenweg created the platform willy-nilly, insisting on its independence and general accessibility while at the same time… managing to amass a serious fortune. And to remain one of the most positive characters in the times of ubiquitous internet.

Jazzzz

WordPress came along just in time at the moment when the web suddenly became accessible and websites were ready to offer a variety of content. The open source platform has rallied a huge community around it. Thanks to it, today it’s easier than ever to have a well-designed website without being a programmer, designer, or having any experience.

It’s very hard to realize what 1/3 of today’s internet means. Different sources give differing figures, but it is approximately 450 million web pages! With not only the number, but the ratio not stopping growing in recent years, WordPress is adding 2% to its “share” of the web per year, and some say it has even passed the 40% mark!

Today, the project’s main database houses 423,759 lines of code, and because the programmers work on a volunteer basis, 112 years of hours of work have been put into the project so far.

And it all started completely by accident, from the curiosity of a kid.

It’s 2003, and 19-year-old Matt Mullenweg is a freshman at the University of Houston. He decided to start a blog and chose the b2/cafelog platform. He wants to show his classmates the pictures he took on a trip to Washington. The blog was called Photomatt.net, and later became simply Ma.tt.

At that time only 2000 sites were made using b2/cafelog. The platform is far from perfect, Matt needs minor improvements so he can upload his photos. So he’s trying to get in touch with the people who created the project… And today, all of us who use WordPress are very lucky that he’s hitting rock bottom.

The creator of the platform is gone, and Matt decides to seek advice in one of the popular programming forums. “My blog’s software dilemma,” the youngster christens the topic, and explains, “The platform login software I use hasn’t been updated in months, and the main developer has disappeared. I can’t find him anywhere, but I hope he’s at least okay.”

Days pass, only one comment appears below. One Mike Little writes: “If you’re serious about the idea of making a successor to b2, I’d be interested in getting involved.”

Summertime

And then, things just happen. Slowly but surely, their project began to gain a following to become what WordPress is today – the platform that gives everyone the chance to be featured in the online world.

Symbolic or not, the project was officially created on April Fool’s Day, the date becoming WordPress’ birthday.

People don’t stop preferring WordPress until today because in its basic form, you don’t need to know how to code. The system is simple, intuitive, and time-tested. And if you do a little programming, you can develop your project without limits. Of course, there are no perfect solutions, WordPress is not always the best choice. But it’s definitely a myth that it’s only suitable for more modest projects, and today it’s used by BBC America, Bloomberg Professional, TechCrunch and The New Yorker.

But we mentioned jazz… What does it have to do with a platform for websites? It’s a stylish decision by the developers, which WP fans are well aware of, to name each new version of the platform after a favourite jazz artist. The first official version, from January 2004, is named after Miles Davis, and the latest, from November 2022, is named after pianist Mikhail Alperin – Misha. With the release of each new version, the creators of WordPress also release a short playlist of their favorite performances of the selected jazzman.

“Technology is most useful when it brings people together,” says Matt Mullenweg.

But how did he and his followers walk the long road to success? How did he manage to become a successful entrepreneur despite becoming popular with open source? What are the WordPress creator’s views on the future of the web and the big questions of today? Read on the Digital Stories website.

Details

Website

www.bussinessnovinite.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Web development

Software engineering

Digital skills

12.05.2023

WOMEN WHO SHONE IN THE TECH WORLD

By 5G & WiFi, Audience, Big data, Computing, For all, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, NEWS, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
WOMEN WHO SHONE IN THE TECH WORLD

02.05.2023 |

Their stories are interesting and inspiring

Some think women don’t understand technology. However, this is far from the case and the proof is in the fact that there are many women professionals who have proven their worth in a wide variety of professions. We present to you a few of the most stunning ladies who have left their name in the history of programming:

Countess Ada Lovelace

Have you heard of her? She’s the daughter of the great poet George Byron. And shocking as it may be, she was the world’s first computer programmer. She was born in London in 1815. As a little girl, Ada loved to curl up in some secluded corner with a pen and a notebook. Her mother feared that her daughter had inherited her father’s literary talent and would carry on his work. Ada, however, was not interested in poetry at all-she was obsessed with the idea of the airplane she was designing.

When she was 17, Ada met mathematician Charles Babbage, who is known as the inventor of the first computer. The girl translated Babbage’s work, Elements of Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine. Interestingly, the translation itself was accompanied by her personal explanations of 52 pages, writes iskamdaznam.

Among other things, she describes the algorithm for calculating Bernoulli’s numbers in order for the computer to understand them. Her calculation sequence can safely be considered the first computer program. Many of the girl’s ideas became the basis for the development of modern programming. In her notes, things like “work cell”, “subroutine”, “loop” are mentioned for the first time in the world.

Grace Hopper

As a child, she was famous for her proverbial curiosity. She remained so. Little Grace dismantled seven alarm clocks – quite puzzling her mother with these actions. Because of her father’s illness, she didn’t want to be another American wife who would be nothing more than a housewife. A decent dowry, however, was not as important as a good education. Therefore, the father chose the latter, which determined his daughter’s fate. The talented Grace Hopper quickly earned her doctorate at Yale. When World War II began, the girl went to serve in the Navy. In 1943, she was transferred to the Artillery Computer Bureau at Harvard University. She was among the first programmers of the Mark I computer. Grace Hopper created the COBOL programming language, which is still current. She first used the term “bug” in her bug report.

Marisa Mayer

Mayer breaks all existing stereotypes about female intelligence by becoming CEO of Yahoo! She was born into a family of an engineer and an artist in 1975 in Wisconsin, USA. After graduating with an MBA from Stanford, she began working at Google, where she became the first female software engineer. Later she worked from one department to another, doing web design, dealing with management, marketing, staff training. As a result, the indefatigable blonde found herself president of the IT product development department.

Marissa Mayer found herself in a difficult situation when she was offered the CEO position at Yahoo because she was pregnant. It is well known that this is not a prerequisite for career development. However, Marissa impressed the board of directors. The company’s management did not doubt for a moment that she was the one to lead Yahoo out of the crisis. After she left Yahoo in 2017, together with her colleague Munoz Torres, she founded Lumi Labs, which is a technology business incubator. The new company is based in Palo Alto, California, and its operations are focused on artificial intelligence and consumer media. She owes her career primarily to her character, which is an incredible “explosive mixture” of pedantry and workaholism.

Read more here.

Details

Website

www.businessnovinite.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital technology

Digital skills

Web development

Software engineering

12.05.2023

FEWER RESTRICTIONS ON TEACHING WILL LEAD TO HIGHER QUALITY SECONDARY EDUCATION

By Audience, Basic digital skills, Digital marketing, For children, In education, Media literacy, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
FEWER RESTRICTIONS ON TEACHING WILL LEAD TO HIGHER QUALITY SECONDARY EDUCATION

02.05.2023 |

Time to consider differentiated remuneration to retain good teachers in priority subjects

The frameworks set out by the Ministry of Education are the stumbling block in the modern training of young talent. The inability to have the power to implement a newer and genuinely useful approach to training processes. Freedom must be given. The head teacher should be able to assign classes to people from the business who within 4-5 hours can come and teach. This will certainly motivate the students, give them another perspective, and motivate the teachers, which in turn will raise the level and lead to better quality education in the state.

Around this opinion united teachers from the Professional High School of Computer Modeling and Computer Systems – city. Varna and Professional School of Computer Science and Mathematical Analysis “Prof. Minko Balkanski – town of Stara Zagora at the next meeting-discussion organized by BASCOM with IT schools in Bulgaria. At the meetings some of the most successful technology schools present and exchange best practices from their training models in order to study their experience and multiply it in other cities of the country. The moderator of the meeting was Ivan Rusev – part of the BASCOM working group that deals with education issues.

Both schools in Varna and Stara Zagora were established less than three years ago and are already an established centre of attraction for young people from their respective regions. Eng. Vyara Dukova, Director of the Professional High School of Computer Modelling and Computer Systems in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. Varna, said that the curriculum is key for any high school. “The main thing we rely on is that in the elective classes children study mathematics. We believe that no engineer or programmer would be successful if they don’t have a good level of math knowledge. The idea of student learning is to achieve lasting knowledge in something, not to go over material that students cannot understand and master. It’s important for us to build a foundation that the business or university will then build on.”

Eng. Dukova is adamant that today’s children are very different in their perceptions and we should find an approach and language to them. “We have tried to build a model where university professors enter the classes at high school level. This was not a successful practice because the university lecturer imparts a knowledge while the student should be taught. Much more examples and work with children at the high school level is needed,” she says.

Kamelia Krumova, Director of PGKNMA “prof. Minko Balkanski” – town of Stara Zagora

The issue of personnel is another big topic that was discussed in the meeting.

“It is very difficult to find teachers who meet the requirements and at the same time to be able to retain them. Often they come to us for a period of time, we put resources into their education and before long the IT industry swallows them up. Teaching is not just a job, it’s a cause and it’s not for everyone,” said Kamelia Krumova, director of Prof. Minko Balkanski” – town of Stara Zagora. Kamelia Krumova added that we have many applications for teachers from people from other sectors, such as banking, who once acquired teaching qualifications and decided to try their hand as teachers years later. There is a need to find a mechanism to support these people, for example to update their knowledge and assess it, because in general there is a mistrust and among these candidates there may be many valuable educators with unrealised potential. As an advice to future technology schools in other cities, Ms. Krumova stressed that it is absolutely important to be able to rely on a core of great teachers in the first place, as well as on the strong support of the local government – the formula for success of the school in the city of Krumova. The main reason for the success of Stara Zagora’s school.

Dobroslav Dimitrov raised the topic of how long it takes teachers to prepare their materials and what a big effort it is. “I myself am the co-founder of a coder training academy, which I have been developing for 10 years and I know how labor-intensive the process is. I can boldly say that since two months we are much more productive thanks to the AI-based tools we implemented. It’s a colossal transition that can solve in a large percentage the problems with content creation or a complete course. Artificial intelligence could help teachers, for example, to come up with specific assignments or coursework for each student in a way that is interesting and personalised to their level of knowledge and understanding. Using these tools, good materials can be prepared and the overall teaching process can be improved. This frees up creative resources that could be directed towards students. The application of artificial intelligence makes sure that the new juniors are at the level of midlevel and this is already happening,” said Dobroslav Dimitrov.

The participants in the discussion were in consensus that at least twice a year IT school principals, together with representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science and business, need to meet to exchange information and share cases that can find their solution through such discussions. They re-emphasized the importance of having a regular government and a Minister of Education as soon as possible to address all the issues raised.

Details

Website

www.basscom.org

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Digital skills

Artificial Intelligence

11.05.2023

CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS AT IT

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Basic digital skills, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For all, For children, In education, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR STUDENTS AT IT

28.04.2023 |

Are you currently considering your career path after graduation? Have you thought about the dynamic and constantly evolving field of IT? Look no further! Join this upcoming event to learn about the exciting opportunities available as a programmer or designer. Take the first step towards your dream career and discover the opportunities that await you!

When?

04 May at 19:00

Where?

We are waiting for you at the boulevard. “Blvd. “Cherni Vrah” 51, floor 2″ (The entrance is on the back side of the building, from Boris Nikolov – Mokata Str.)

What is the event?

The event will take the form of a discussion, with a short presentation. The best teachers from IT STEP ACADEMY ( in the field of “Programming” and “Design”) will participate in it. You will have the opportunity to get to know their stories and get inspiration from their experience.

The event will be held in two parts (in two different rooms), and you will be able to choose where you want to attend and which is the most curious and useful for you.

Confirm your attendance by registering here.

Details

Website

www.itstep.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for kids

Digital technology

Digital skills

Software engineering

Web development

Mobile apps

Telecommunications

09.05.2023

BESCO: IT’S TIME TO ENCOURAGE TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT OUTSIDE SOFIA

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Basic digital skills, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For all, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
BESCO: IT'S TIME TO ENCOURAGE TECHNOLOGY INVESTMENT OUTSIDE SOFIA

26.04.2023 |

Svetozar Georgiev, Chairman of the Board of BESCO – Bulgarian Entrepreneurs Association, Dobromir Ivanov, Executive Director of BESCO, in “Business Start”

The Investment Promotion Act in Bulgaria is not adequate to what our neighbouring countries are doing. Neighbouring countries are doing better than us because the way they define the classes of investors and the way state aid is given – what the state actually supports to make deals happen – are fundamentally different. We now have draft laws in place that should change the situation. We propose amendments to the law to focus on medium- and high-tech companies that are outside Sofia and, as a consequence, to change the way in which the relevant classes of investors are defined. This was commented by Svetozar Georgiev, Chairman of the Board of BESCO – Bulgarian Entrepreneurial Association, and Dobromir Ivanov, Executive Director of BESCO, in the TV show “Business Start” with host Hristo Nikolov.

Sofia is now considered a more developed region and especially when it comes to high-tech businesses, there is even cannibalism between companies in the capital and it is very important to develop the regions outside Sofia, the participants explain.

“In Sofia, the competition for staff is so great that at the moment of the arrival of a technology giant to extract more engineers to work for it, it is not clear whether this would help the ecosystem in the city at all…When a competition is too intense and we have a closed market, as in Sofia, we already become uncompetitive at the regional level because the cost of labor becomes too high.”

According to the interlocutors, it is very important to change the size of the budget with which we attract investors. At the moment, the budget of our Investment Agency is about BGN 9 million. By comparison, Serbia entered into a deal with 300 million euros a few weeks ago.

“Accordingly, we do not meet the basic requirements when an investor looks at the region to be able to be competitive with what other countries around us are offering.”

According to the interlocutors, urgent changes are needed in the education system and a key priority in the field is the creation of a standard for the quality of teachers’ work.

“Educational institutions, schools and universities need to be clear about what kind of product they produce in the end…At the moment the system is extremely formal, there are no quality criteria and we are lagging spectacularly behind Europe and the rest of the world.”

Commenting on the results of the parliamentary elections, the interlocutors stressed that the expectations of the business and the people are related to having a regular government that does its job. The state has been in a caretaker mode for two years, the caretaker government is not a body that can legitimise the important issues and the long-term commitments that need to be made and we need to get out of this mode.

Society is fragmented, but this is not just a Bulgarian phenomenon. Only – as in business, we cannot wait for all factors and conjuncture to line up perfectly to start doing work, it cannot be done, we have to work with what we have. Our plea to politicians is to stop trying for an ideal scenario as it will not happen. During this time, key aspects of Bulgaria’s way forward are actually questionable or to be postponed, or even neglected – like our membership in the euro area, in Schengen, the Recovery and Sustainability Plan is delayed too much, and to this we can add many institutions with expired mandates.

“We are a parliamentary republic, it has to be governed that way and the political parties that are in parliament – in whatever configuration they are – have to work”, the interlocutors point out.

The whole conversation can be seen in the video here.

Details

Website

www.bloombergtv.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Digital skills

05.05.2023

POLICY IN THE BAR – HUMAN CLOUD

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For all, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
POLICY IN THE BAR - HUMAN CLOUD

26.04.2023 |

Policy in the Bar is a BESCO networking event that brings together people from the entrepreneurial ecosystem in an informal setting over a beer. These include a variety of business owners, investors, policy makers and journalists. The meetings are in a friendly atmosphere and are aimed at networking and discussing ideas that can improve Bulgaria’s economic model.

GigsRemote will also be at the event to share more human cloud services of the future. GigsRemote is an innovative platform connecting freelancers from Eastern Europe with businesses in need of high quality talent to deliver their projects. The company acts as an impresario for freelancers, finding the best projects according to their experience and desire for professional growth. GigsRemote enables companies to implement their dual IT project implementation strategy, leveraging a core of key personnel within the company and hiring specialized external specialists.

The model is optimized for all involved, presenting the company with a cost- and time-effective alternative to the traditional model of recruiting through staffing agencies or hiring employees.

Come and meet us so that together we can build the future of Bulgaria!

More about the event here.

Details

Website

www.besco.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital technology

Software engineering

Web development

Digital skills

Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity

05.05.2023

RAILS GIRLS SOFIA 15

By Audience, Basic digital skills, EVENTS, For all, For the workforce, In education, Media literacy, Mobile apps, Technology, Web developmentNo Comments
RAILS GIRLS SOFIA 15

20.04.2023 |

Rails Girls Sofia for the fifteenth time!

Rails Girls is a free two-day workshop aimed at ladies with zero or minimal experience in programming and technology.

The main goal is to show that programming is a fun, interesting, exciting and very useful skill that can be used in many different ways. You will have the opportunity to create your first web application, in an enjoyable atmosphere and under the guidance of experienced instructors. More about the event ↓

The event requires (free) registration in advance.

Details

Website

Sofia 12-13 May 2023 – Rails Girls Sofia 15

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills

Web development

Mobile apps

Date

12.05.2023-13.05.2023г.

Access 

Free event

Format

In-person event

Location

2020 Event Space

Sofia

20.04.2023

FILTER BY AUDIENCE

For all
For children
In education
For the workforce

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FILTER BY TECHNOLOGY

Cybersecurity
AI & ML
AR & VR
Basic digital skills

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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

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

The best AI tools for education

By AI & ML, Basic digital skills, Bulgaria, Bulgarian, Country providing the educational resource, For all, For ICT professionals, In education, INSPIRATION, Inspiration, INSPIRATION: Educational resources, Language оf the educational resource, Other educational resources, Technology, Type of the educational resourceNo Comments
The best AI tools for education

05.02.2024 |

Most of the discussions about artificial intelligence (AI) tools are often focused on business, but there is immense potential for AI to dramatically improve our educational systems. This is one of the most effective tools that teachers can have at their disposal, often relieving them of administrative burdens. These technologies will not replace teachers but rather allow them to allocate more time to student learning.

AI is rapidly growing in the education sector and is becoming a global billion-dollar market. This rapid growth is due to its ability to transform many aspects of teaching and learning processes. AI can create engaging virtual learning environments, generate “intelligent content,” alleviate language barriers, bridge gaps between learning and teaching, create specialized plans for each student, and much more.

Many innovative companies are creating AI tools to achieve these results. Let’s look at some of the best AI tools for education:

  1. Gradescope

What is Gradescope?

Gradescope’s AI tool allows students to evaluate each other while providing feedback simultaneously, which often consumes a lot of time without AI technology. Gradescope relies on a combination of machine learning (ML) and AI for easier grading, saving time and energy.

By outsourcing these tasks to external evaluators, teachers can focus on more important tasks. Gradescope can be used by teachers to grade paper exams and online assignments, as well as to prepare projects in one place.

Here are some key features of Gradescope:

  • AI-assisted and manually grouped questions
  • Time extensions specific to students
  • Grading with AI assistance
  • Improved efficiency and fairness
2.Fetchy

Fetchy is a generative AI-based platform created specifically for teachers. It empowers teachers to unleash their full teaching potential by simplifying and streamlining the myriad tasks they face, including creating engaging lessons, generating newsletters, crafting professional emails, and more. By harnessing the power of AI, Fetchy enables teachers to enhance their teaching methods, optimize time management, and make confident and informed decisions.

Fetchy specializes in personalizing generated language to meet teachers’ requirements without requiring them to formulate complex prompts. When using Fetchy’s personalized solutions, teachers can expect tailored results that align with their specific educational needs.

  • Generate lesson plans
  • Review history from multiple perspectives
  • Find mathematical or scientific experiments
  1. Nuance

Located in Burlington, Massachusetts, Nuance provides speech recognition software that can be used by both students and teachers. The company’s Dragon Speech Recognition product can transcribe up to 160 words per minute, aiding students who have difficulty writing or typing. The tool also supports verbal commands for document navigation, which is essential for students with accessibility needs.

Dragon offers many more features, including the ability to dictate lesson plans, curriculum, worksheets, reading lists, and more at speeds three times faster than typing, all while achieving 99% accuracy.

Here are some key features of Nuance’s Dragon:

  • Accessibility features supporting verbal commands
  • Voice assessment of students’ work
  • Dictate work in class with 99% accuracy

You can find the top 10 AI tools for education here.

Details

Website

www.unite.ai/bg

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Artificial intelligence

Digital Skills

Level

Middle

Type of the educational resource

Other educational materials

Language of the educational resource

Bulgarian

Country providing the educational resource

Bulgaria

05.02.2024

REGISTRATION FOR JAVA2DAYS 2023 IS OFFICIALLY OPEN

By Audience, Basic digital skills, For ICT professionals, In education, NEWS, Software engineering, Technology, Web developmentNo Comments
REGISTRATION FOR JAVA2DAYS 2023 IS OFFICIALLY OPEN

17.05.2023 |

Registration for Java2Days 2023 is officially open! Don’t miss your chance to be part of the most anticipated Java event of the year, which will take place from 27 to 29 June in the beautiful seaside resort of Albena, located in a picturesque and ecologically clean bay on the Black Sea.

Java2Days 2023 promises to give you a unique and unforgettable experience, bringing together the brightest minds in the Java community for three action-packed days of innovative lectures, hands-on workshops and unparalleled networking opportunities.

By attending Java2Days 2023, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Learn from world-class speakers, including Java Champions and industry leaders, as they share their insights, experiences, and techniques to help you level up your Java game.
  • Dive into practical, skill-building workshops designed to sharpen your expertise and expand your knowledge of the Java ecosystem.
  • Participate in thought-provoking conversations exploring the future of Java and its impact on the ever-evolving world of technology.
  • Connect with fellow Java enthusiasts, developers, and professionals from around the globe to share ideas and forge lasting relationships.
  • Grab your limited-edition Java2Days 2023 swag and merchandise to show off your Java pride!

Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to dive into the world of Java. The event will contribute significantly to your professional development. Secure your place at Java2Days 2023 today by selecting your ticket type here.

Register now and join to Java2Days for an extraordinary experience, where sun, sea, and code come together!

Details

Website

www.devstyler.io

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Software engineering

Web development

Digital skills

17.05.2023

THE BEST TEACHING PRACTICES FOR THE YEAR WERE AWARDED AT THE LARGEST EDUCATIONAL FORUM IN BULGARIA

By AI & ML, Audience, Basic digital skills, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, In education, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
THE BEST TEACHING PRACTICES FOR THE YEAR WERE AWARDED AT THE LARGEST EDUCATIONAL FORUM IN BULGARIA

03.05.2023 |

Over 400 teachers, principals and education experts took part in this year’s edition of the educational event “Best Practices in Focus” on 29 and 30 April in Sofia.

Art Therapy Studio to improve students’ emotional competencies; project-based learning to celebrate the holidays of different ethnicities in school and develop tolerance among students; a student portfolio in biology to develop scientific literacy, short-term memory and motivation; and a comprehensive school strategy for environmental education and developing awareness of global challenges related to climate change. These are the educational practices that were rated highest in this year’s Best Practices in Focus competition. For the second year in a row, the competition collects, describes and promotes good examples of the work of teachers in Bulgaria.

The awards were presented on 29 April in Sofia during the largest educational event of the same name, which brought together more than 400 teachers, principals and educational experts to exchange experiences, inspiration, practical workshops and search for new approaches to engage students in the 21st century.

The organizers of the competition and the final event “Good Practices in Focus” are the Foundation “Together in class” and the educational website prepodavame.bg.

The winning practices are reviewed and evaluated by an expert jury of over 40 people. In the selection criteria, they look for practices that are effective, sustainable and improve the well-being of children, promote youth participation and support students’ academic progress.

“We often talk about what is not happening in Bulgarian classrooms, what needs to be changed and fixed. This gives the wrong impression that meaningful and inspiring things are not happening. With Good Practices in Focus, we want to show just how much resource and potential there is in the country’s schools. We have received many good examples that we believe will be useful for teachers in other schools – to find inspiration, to find like-minded people and to look for new opportunities to be even more helpful to their pupils.”

In addition to jury awards, audience awards and additional special awards were presented to some of the partners in the event.

In the program of the event, in addition to the awarding of the best practices, teachers from all over the country had the opportunity to participate in an important discussion on how we provide quality education to all students with the participation of Anelia Andreeva from the National Inspectorate of Education, representatives of the World Bank and education experts. [recording of the discussion coming soon]

After the discussion, the forum participants drew on the experience of Dr. Rima Shore, head of the Bank Street College of Education in New York. She inspired the attendees with a lecture on “Empowering Teachers”, which focused on the power and impact of teacher empowerment [lecture recording coming soon]. She also led two hands-on workshops on strategies for improving student well-being and progress and adapting best practices from elsewhere. The workshops were highly appreciated by teachers and helped many of them to imagine how they could innovate more in their teaching practice.

In addition to the international guest, the teachers at the forum learned experientially through practical workshops prepared by teachers from Sofia, Varna, Staza Zagora, Knezha, S. Bohot, S. Rumyantsevo.

The first day of the event also introduced teachers to over 30 educational organizations and initiatives during a special educational exhibition.

More about the event and a full list of the award winners can be found here.

Details

Website

www.zaednovchas.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills

12.05.2023

REGISTRATION FOR THE COMPETITION “DIGITAL INNOVATORS IN EDUCATION” OPENS

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Basic digital skills, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, In education, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
REGISTRATION FOR THE COMPETITION "DIGITAL INNOVATORS IN EDUCATION" OPENS

03.05.2023 |

Traditionally, the campaign and the award ceremony will be held under the patronage of the Minister of Education and Science

From today, 3 May 2023, the registration for the Digital Innovators in Education Teacher Competition 2023, organised by BAIT for the fourth consecutive year, will open.

The aim of the competition is to reward and encourage best practices in the use of digital content, the connection of schools with business and the preparation for the establishment of STEM centers. The competition is looking for teachers – digital innovators, teaching from 1st to 12th grade.

All teachers, including assistant teachers, teaching students from 1st to 12th grade in all subjects included in the curricula of the Ministry of Education can participate. Any teacher may apply or be nominated* in one or more categories. (*Nominations also require completion of all fields on the application form, as well as supporting evidence.)

Registration in the competition is done by submitting an Application Form.

Deadline for registration: 26.05.2023 by 17:00.

Links to posts, testimonials, comments from students and parents on Facebook, LinkedIn, learning platforms, received via email, test scores, videos, links to materials and videos will be accepted.

The competition will determine award winners in the following 4 categories:

1.Technological Innovation:

  • Application of ICT in the overall learning process – tests, homework, visualization and examples;
  • Additional technological innovations – simulation environments, automation, generation of unique tests with the same degree of difficulty (scoring and individualization), authorship check;
  • Use of special technological tools in extracurricular activities – 3D printers, computer aided design systems /CAD systems/, virtual reality, etc.;
  • Contribution to the learning of the material (comparison of test results with previous years).

2. Quality learning content:

  • Interactive presentation of content: engaging students in the delivery and preparation of the lesson;
  • Learning through fun with a platform based on games and building different worlds that encourages creativity, collaboration and problem solving /games, quizzes and other forms with a competitive element/;
  • Feedback from parents , students and guest speakers;
  • Multiple use by other teachers and/or schools.

3. Practical orientation of information technology teaching:

  • Teacher participation in the Business Teaches NP (by updating knowledge and introducing examples from practice to enhance the practical focus of teaching and/or using practitioners as teaching assistants, guest lecturers). Using practical examples and knowledge of new technologies acquired during training in companies in the teaching process;
  • Other forms of collaboration with business to make classroom learning more practical;
  • Extracurricular forms of cooperation with business – internships, workshops and visits to companies.

4. Contribute to a quality STEM center:

  • Preparing for the use of the STEM center in the learning process;
  • Preparation of attractive and interactive content for after-school activities/clubs;
  • Preparing teachers to successfully use the technology tools in the STEM center;
  • Programs to generate interest in STEM;
  • STEM Skills Formation Programs.

The jury, which includes the members of the Management and Supervisory Boards of BAIT, will award the best applications from 1st to 3rd place in each of the four categories.

The winners will be awarded at an official ceremony at TechnoMagicLand on 27.06.2023.

Details

Website

www.bait.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Software Engineering

Telecommunications

Web Development

Big Data

Mobile apps

Digital Marketing

Artificial Intelligence

Digital Skills

12.05.2023

MAY IN SOFTUNI

By Audience, Basic digital skills, For all, For ICT professionals, In education, NEWS, Software engineering, Technology, Web developmentNo Comments
MAY IN SOFTUNI

02.05.2023 |

We are pleased to introduce you to the new modules and courses launching at SoftUni in May.

The programme of each course has been selected and developed with the most sought-after skills by employers in mind. The technologies emphasized in them are in line with the latest trends.

  • On May 2 the advanced training “C++ Advanced” with lecturer Doncho Angelov will start: https://bit.ly/3mZhzVA
  • The new course “Containers and Cloud” with lecturer Martin Gradev will introduce you to best practices for creating containers with Docker: https://bit.ly/3oxLkNr
  • The “MySQL” course with lecturer Nikolay Bankin starts on May 10: https://bit.ly/40AS62v
  • With the training “HTML & CSS” with lecturer Konstantin Dankov you will learn to create modern websites with HTML & CSS: https://bit.ly/3V3BP4R
  • The module “Algorithms with Java” with speaker Nikolay Bankin starts on May 22: https://bit.ly/43VJ96G
  • The module “Algorithms with C#” with lecturer Atanas Atanasov starts on May 22: https://bit.ly/3LnfPPh
  • Microsoft Excel module with lecturer Desislava Topuzakova starts on May 25: https://bit.ly/43VP0ZN
  • Course “Microsoft Excel Fundamentals” with lecturer Desislava Topuzakova starts on May 25: https://bit.ly/3Arbe8g

You can find out more about the courses and modules here.

Details

Website

www.softuni.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Software engineering

Digital skills

Web development

Programming

12.05.2023

FEWER RESTRICTIONS ON TEACHING WILL LEAD TO HIGHER QUALITY SECONDARY EDUCATION

By Audience, Basic digital skills, Digital marketing, For children, In education, Media literacy, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
FEWER RESTRICTIONS ON TEACHING WILL LEAD TO HIGHER QUALITY SECONDARY EDUCATION

02.05.2023 |

Time to consider differentiated remuneration to retain good teachers in priority subjects

The frameworks set out by the Ministry of Education are the stumbling block in the modern training of young talent. The inability to have the power to implement a newer and genuinely useful approach to training processes. Freedom must be given. The head teacher should be able to assign classes to people from the business who within 4-5 hours can come and teach. This will certainly motivate the students, give them another perspective, and motivate the teachers, which in turn will raise the level and lead to better quality education in the state.

Around this opinion united teachers from the Professional High School of Computer Modeling and Computer Systems – city. Varna and Professional School of Computer Science and Mathematical Analysis “Prof. Minko Balkanski – town of Stara Zagora at the next meeting-discussion organized by BASCOM with IT schools in Bulgaria. At the meetings some of the most successful technology schools present and exchange best practices from their training models in order to study their experience and multiply it in other cities of the country. The moderator of the meeting was Ivan Rusev – part of the BASCOM working group that deals with education issues.

Both schools in Varna and Stara Zagora were established less than three years ago and are already an established centre of attraction for young people from their respective regions. Eng. Vyara Dukova, Director of the Professional High School of Computer Modelling and Computer Systems in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. Varna, said that the curriculum is key for any high school. “The main thing we rely on is that in the elective classes children study mathematics. We believe that no engineer or programmer would be successful if they don’t have a good level of math knowledge. The idea of student learning is to achieve lasting knowledge in something, not to go over material that students cannot understand and master. It’s important for us to build a foundation that the business or university will then build on.”

Eng. Dukova is adamant that today’s children are very different in their perceptions and we should find an approach and language to them. “We have tried to build a model where university professors enter the classes at high school level. This was not a successful practice because the university lecturer imparts a knowledge while the student should be taught. Much more examples and work with children at the high school level is needed,” she says.

Kamelia Krumova, Director of PGKNMA “prof. Minko Balkanski” – town of Stara Zagora

The issue of personnel is another big topic that was discussed in the meeting.

“It is very difficult to find teachers who meet the requirements and at the same time to be able to retain them. Often they come to us for a period of time, we put resources into their education and before long the IT industry swallows them up. Teaching is not just a job, it’s a cause and it’s not for everyone,” said Kamelia Krumova, director of Prof. Minko Balkanski” – town of Stara Zagora. Kamelia Krumova added that we have many applications for teachers from people from other sectors, such as banking, who once acquired teaching qualifications and decided to try their hand as teachers years later. There is a need to find a mechanism to support these people, for example to update their knowledge and assess it, because in general there is a mistrust and among these candidates there may be many valuable educators with unrealised potential. As an advice to future technology schools in other cities, Ms. Krumova stressed that it is absolutely important to be able to rely on a core of great teachers in the first place, as well as on the strong support of the local government – the formula for success of the school in the city of Krumova. The main reason for the success of Stara Zagora’s school.

Dobroslav Dimitrov raised the topic of how long it takes teachers to prepare their materials and what a big effort it is. “I myself am the co-founder of a coder training academy, which I have been developing for 10 years and I know how labor-intensive the process is. I can boldly say that since two months we are much more productive thanks to the AI-based tools we implemented. It’s a colossal transition that can solve in a large percentage the problems with content creation or a complete course. Artificial intelligence could help teachers, for example, to come up with specific assignments or coursework for each student in a way that is interesting and personalised to their level of knowledge and understanding. Using these tools, good materials can be prepared and the overall teaching process can be improved. This frees up creative resources that could be directed towards students. The application of artificial intelligence makes sure that the new juniors are at the level of midlevel and this is already happening,” said Dobroslav Dimitrov.

The participants in the discussion were in consensus that at least twice a year IT school principals, together with representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science and business, need to meet to exchange information and share cases that can find their solution through such discussions. They re-emphasized the importance of having a regular government and a Minister of Education as soon as possible to address all the issues raised.

Details

Website

www.basscom.org

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Digital skills

Artificial Intelligence

11.05.2023

HOW TALENT IS DEVELOPED – TBS ACADEMY

By AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, For all, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, In education, IoT, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
HOW TALENT IS DEVELOPED - TBS ACADEMY

28.04.2023 |

The shortage of staff in the IT sector is an undeniable fact. The right way to address it is multi-layered and dynamic, just like the industry itself. “TBS Academy” was established with a clear mission – to offer the best practical and personalized training in the field of IT infrastructure.

Established in 2021, “TBS Academy” has been able to train a total of 40 professionals, 21 of whom are already working in the company, having chosen the department they want to develop in themselves. Completely free of charge, the Academy enables anyone with an interest in the field to not only gain knowledge, but also to get a chance for future career development at TBS after successfully completing the training. At its core are the drive of the teaching team and a clear awareness of a holistic transformation of learners. The academy is gaining popularity, starting with 25 candidates in 2021, a number that has grown significantly to 122 for the last training.

A new, more ambitious stage in the Academy’s history, encouraged by its great success, is its expansion to other Balkan countries following the same model, with TBS offices becoming educational hubs of sorts. Up-to-date, different and practically oriented, the Academy successfully combines ambition and the drive for knowledge with the need for well-trained IT staff.

About the Academy

The training starts with a three-month technology-focused theoretical part that covers the basics of modern IT infrastructure. Upon successful completion of the first stage, it progresses to a paid three-month practical internship, during which trainees get the opportunity to get involved in real company projects on an ongoing basis. For many, the final step is to start a job at TBS that guides them in their overall career development.

After gaining hands-on experience, new experts are encouraged to take a company-sponsored, internationally recognized certification exam. For this purpose, the Academy’s own certification centre, part of the Pearson VUE network, is located in the TBS office in Sofia. It is also available to external candidates. The centre offers certification exams of leading IT companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, Dell, IBM and many others. Nearly 300 certification exams have been conducted in the last year, half of them by TBS employees and the other half by external candidates.

Since human resource is the core of TBS’s progress, creating professionals with the right focus and understanding of market needs is an absolute must. It is crucial to invest in initiatives that support and develop young professionals. Thanks to optimized training content, adequate planning and vast teaching experience, the “TBS Academy” is considered one of the main pillars in the company’s strategic development. Future trainings will build on the knowledge base in line with TBS’s long-term vision and with a focus on current expert needs.

Details

Website

www.capital.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills

Software engineering

Web development

Mobile apps

Big data

Telecommunications

AI

Blockchain

10.05.2023

SCHOLARSHIP FUND “GO, STUDY AND COME BACK”

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For ICT professionals, In education, IoT, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
SCHOLARSHIP FUND "GO, STUDY AND COME BACK"

28.04.2023 |

The Tuk-Tam “Go, Study and Come Back” Scholarship Fund is launching for the eighth consecutive year and will be the largest ever with a total fund of nearly 100,000 BGN!

The fund is a Tuk-Tam initiative that supports motivated Bulgarians to continue their education with a Master’s degree at a foreign university, and then apply what they learn here – this is how we build a brighter future in Bulgaria.

You can take part in the competition REGARDLESS of the field and country you apply to, as long as you have:

  • Bulgarian citizenship
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree obtained by 31 July 2023
  • Started application process to a Master’s programme at a foreign university
  • At least B2 level of proficiency in the language in which the training will be conducted
  • A clear intention to pursue a career in Bulgaria.

If you are targeting an Engineering (or similar) Master’s degree abroad, you can apply for the 10,000 BGN Specialist Scholarship from Sensata Technologies.

Apply by May 10! More about the fields, as well as all the conditions and the application form, can be found here.

Details

Website

www.tuk-tam.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Software engineering

Telecommunications

Big data

Mobile apps

Web development

Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity

10.05.2023

FILTER BY AUDIENCE

For all
For children
In education
For the workforce

See more

FILTER BY TECHNOLOGY

Cybersecurity
AI & ML
AR & VR
Basic digital skills

See more

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

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

The best AI tools for education

By AI & ML, Basic digital skills, Bulgaria, Bulgarian, Country providing the educational resource, For all, For ICT professionals, In education, INSPIRATION, Inspiration, INSPIRATION: Educational resources, Language оf the educational resource, Other educational resources, Technology, Type of the educational resourceNo Comments
The best AI tools for education

05.02.2024 |

Most of the discussions about artificial intelligence (AI) tools are often focused on business, but there is immense potential for AI to dramatically improve our educational systems. This is one of the most effective tools that teachers can have at their disposal, often relieving them of administrative burdens. These technologies will not replace teachers but rather allow them to allocate more time to student learning.

AI is rapidly growing in the education sector and is becoming a global billion-dollar market. This rapid growth is due to its ability to transform many aspects of teaching and learning processes. AI can create engaging virtual learning environments, generate “intelligent content,” alleviate language barriers, bridge gaps between learning and teaching, create specialized plans for each student, and much more.

Many innovative companies are creating AI tools to achieve these results. Let’s look at some of the best AI tools for education:

  1. Gradescope

What is Gradescope?

Gradescope’s AI tool allows students to evaluate each other while providing feedback simultaneously, which often consumes a lot of time without AI technology. Gradescope relies on a combination of machine learning (ML) and AI for easier grading, saving time and energy.

By outsourcing these tasks to external evaluators, teachers can focus on more important tasks. Gradescope can be used by teachers to grade paper exams and online assignments, as well as to prepare projects in one place.

Here are some key features of Gradescope:

  • AI-assisted and manually grouped questions
  • Time extensions specific to students
  • Grading with AI assistance
  • Improved efficiency and fairness
2.Fetchy

Fetchy is a generative AI-based platform created specifically for teachers. It empowers teachers to unleash their full teaching potential by simplifying and streamlining the myriad tasks they face, including creating engaging lessons, generating newsletters, crafting professional emails, and more. By harnessing the power of AI, Fetchy enables teachers to enhance their teaching methods, optimize time management, and make confident and informed decisions.

Fetchy specializes in personalizing generated language to meet teachers’ requirements without requiring them to formulate complex prompts. When using Fetchy’s personalized solutions, teachers can expect tailored results that align with their specific educational needs.

  • Generate lesson plans
  • Review history from multiple perspectives
  • Find mathematical or scientific experiments
  1. Nuance

Located in Burlington, Massachusetts, Nuance provides speech recognition software that can be used by both students and teachers. The company’s Dragon Speech Recognition product can transcribe up to 160 words per minute, aiding students who have difficulty writing or typing. The tool also supports verbal commands for document navigation, which is essential for students with accessibility needs.

Dragon offers many more features, including the ability to dictate lesson plans, curriculum, worksheets, reading lists, and more at speeds three times faster than typing, all while achieving 99% accuracy.

Here are some key features of Nuance’s Dragon:

  • Accessibility features supporting verbal commands
  • Voice assessment of students’ work
  • Dictate work in class with 99% accuracy

You can find the top 10 AI tools for education here.

Details

Website

www.unite.ai/bg

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Artificial intelligence

Digital Skills

Level

Middle

Type of the educational resource

Other educational materials

Language of the educational resource

Bulgarian

Country providing the educational resource

Bulgaria

05.02.2024

REGISTRATION FOR JAVA2DAYS 2023 IS OFFICIALLY OPEN

By Audience, Basic digital skills, For ICT professionals, In education, NEWS, Software engineering, Technology, Web developmentNo Comments
REGISTRATION FOR JAVA2DAYS 2023 IS OFFICIALLY OPEN

17.05.2023 |

Registration for Java2Days 2023 is officially open! Don’t miss your chance to be part of the most anticipated Java event of the year, which will take place from 27 to 29 June in the beautiful seaside resort of Albena, located in a picturesque and ecologically clean bay on the Black Sea.

Java2Days 2023 promises to give you a unique and unforgettable experience, bringing together the brightest minds in the Java community for three action-packed days of innovative lectures, hands-on workshops and unparalleled networking opportunities.

By attending Java2Days 2023, you will have the opportunity to:

  • Learn from world-class speakers, including Java Champions and industry leaders, as they share their insights, experiences, and techniques to help you level up your Java game.
  • Dive into practical, skill-building workshops designed to sharpen your expertise and expand your knowledge of the Java ecosystem.
  • Participate in thought-provoking conversations exploring the future of Java and its impact on the ever-evolving world of technology.
  • Connect with fellow Java enthusiasts, developers, and professionals from around the globe to share ideas and forge lasting relationships.
  • Grab your limited-edition Java2Days 2023 swag and merchandise to show off your Java pride!

Don’t miss this amazing opportunity to dive into the world of Java. The event will contribute significantly to your professional development. Secure your place at Java2Days 2023 today by selecting your ticket type here.

Register now and join to Java2Days for an extraordinary experience, where sun, sea, and code come together!

Details

Website

www.devstyler.io

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Software engineering

Web development

Digital skills

17.05.2023

THE BEST TEACHING PRACTICES FOR THE YEAR WERE AWARDED AT THE LARGEST EDUCATIONAL FORUM IN BULGARIA

By AI & ML, Audience, Basic digital skills, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, In education, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
THE BEST TEACHING PRACTICES FOR THE YEAR WERE AWARDED AT THE LARGEST EDUCATIONAL FORUM IN BULGARIA

03.05.2023 |

Over 400 teachers, principals and education experts took part in this year’s edition of the educational event “Best Practices in Focus” on 29 and 30 April in Sofia.

Art Therapy Studio to improve students’ emotional competencies; project-based learning to celebrate the holidays of different ethnicities in school and develop tolerance among students; a student portfolio in biology to develop scientific literacy, short-term memory and motivation; and a comprehensive school strategy for environmental education and developing awareness of global challenges related to climate change. These are the educational practices that were rated highest in this year’s Best Practices in Focus competition. For the second year in a row, the competition collects, describes and promotes good examples of the work of teachers in Bulgaria.

The awards were presented on 29 April in Sofia during the largest educational event of the same name, which brought together more than 400 teachers, principals and educational experts to exchange experiences, inspiration, practical workshops and search for new approaches to engage students in the 21st century.

The organizers of the competition and the final event “Good Practices in Focus” are the Foundation “Together in class” and the educational website prepodavame.bg.

The winning practices are reviewed and evaluated by an expert jury of over 40 people. In the selection criteria, they look for practices that are effective, sustainable and improve the well-being of children, promote youth participation and support students’ academic progress.

“We often talk about what is not happening in Bulgarian classrooms, what needs to be changed and fixed. This gives the wrong impression that meaningful and inspiring things are not happening. With Good Practices in Focus, we want to show just how much resource and potential there is in the country’s schools. We have received many good examples that we believe will be useful for teachers in other schools – to find inspiration, to find like-minded people and to look for new opportunities to be even more helpful to their pupils.”

In addition to jury awards, audience awards and additional special awards were presented to some of the partners in the event.

In the program of the event, in addition to the awarding of the best practices, teachers from all over the country had the opportunity to participate in an important discussion on how we provide quality education to all students with the participation of Anelia Andreeva from the National Inspectorate of Education, representatives of the World Bank and education experts. [recording of the discussion coming soon]

After the discussion, the forum participants drew on the experience of Dr. Rima Shore, head of the Bank Street College of Education in New York. She inspired the attendees with a lecture on “Empowering Teachers”, which focused on the power and impact of teacher empowerment [lecture recording coming soon]. She also led two hands-on workshops on strategies for improving student well-being and progress and adapting best practices from elsewhere. The workshops were highly appreciated by teachers and helped many of them to imagine how they could innovate more in their teaching practice.

In addition to the international guest, the teachers at the forum learned experientially through practical workshops prepared by teachers from Sofia, Varna, Staza Zagora, Knezha, S. Bohot, S. Rumyantsevo.

The first day of the event also introduced teachers to over 30 educational organizations and initiatives during a special educational exhibition.

More about the event and a full list of the award winners can be found here.

Details

Website

www.zaednovchas.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills

12.05.2023

REGISTRATION FOR THE COMPETITION “DIGITAL INNOVATORS IN EDUCATION” OPENS

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Basic digital skills, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, In education, IoT, Media literacy, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
REGISTRATION FOR THE COMPETITION "DIGITAL INNOVATORS IN EDUCATION" OPENS

03.05.2023 |

Traditionally, the campaign and the award ceremony will be held under the patronage of the Minister of Education and Science

From today, 3 May 2023, the registration for the Digital Innovators in Education Teacher Competition 2023, organised by BAIT for the fourth consecutive year, will open.

The aim of the competition is to reward and encourage best practices in the use of digital content, the connection of schools with business and the preparation for the establishment of STEM centers. The competition is looking for teachers – digital innovators, teaching from 1st to 12th grade.

All teachers, including assistant teachers, teaching students from 1st to 12th grade in all subjects included in the curricula of the Ministry of Education can participate. Any teacher may apply or be nominated* in one or more categories. (*Nominations also require completion of all fields on the application form, as well as supporting evidence.)

Registration in the competition is done by submitting an Application Form.

Deadline for registration: 26.05.2023 by 17:00.

Links to posts, testimonials, comments from students and parents on Facebook, LinkedIn, learning platforms, received via email, test scores, videos, links to materials and videos will be accepted.

The competition will determine award winners in the following 4 categories:

1.Technological Innovation:

  • Application of ICT in the overall learning process – tests, homework, visualization and examples;
  • Additional technological innovations – simulation environments, automation, generation of unique tests with the same degree of difficulty (scoring and individualization), authorship check;
  • Use of special technological tools in extracurricular activities – 3D printers, computer aided design systems /CAD systems/, virtual reality, etc.;
  • Contribution to the learning of the material (comparison of test results with previous years).

2. Quality learning content:

  • Interactive presentation of content: engaging students in the delivery and preparation of the lesson;
  • Learning through fun with a platform based on games and building different worlds that encourages creativity, collaboration and problem solving /games, quizzes and other forms with a competitive element/;
  • Feedback from parents , students and guest speakers;
  • Multiple use by other teachers and/or schools.

3. Practical orientation of information technology teaching:

  • Teacher participation in the Business Teaches NP (by updating knowledge and introducing examples from practice to enhance the practical focus of teaching and/or using practitioners as teaching assistants, guest lecturers). Using practical examples and knowledge of new technologies acquired during training in companies in the teaching process;
  • Other forms of collaboration with business to make classroom learning more practical;
  • Extracurricular forms of cooperation with business – internships, workshops and visits to companies.

4. Contribute to a quality STEM center:

  • Preparing for the use of the STEM center in the learning process;
  • Preparation of attractive and interactive content for after-school activities/clubs;
  • Preparing teachers to successfully use the technology tools in the STEM center;
  • Programs to generate interest in STEM;
  • STEM Skills Formation Programs.

The jury, which includes the members of the Management and Supervisory Boards of BAIT, will award the best applications from 1st to 3rd place in each of the four categories.

The winners will be awarded at an official ceremony at TechnoMagicLand on 27.06.2023.

Details

Website

www.bait.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Software Engineering

Telecommunications

Web Development

Big Data

Mobile apps

Digital Marketing

Artificial Intelligence

Digital Skills

12.05.2023

MAY IN SOFTUNI

By Audience, Basic digital skills, For all, For ICT professionals, In education, NEWS, Software engineering, Technology, Web developmentNo Comments
MAY IN SOFTUNI

02.05.2023 |

We are pleased to introduce you to the new modules and courses launching at SoftUni in May.

The programme of each course has been selected and developed with the most sought-after skills by employers in mind. The technologies emphasized in them are in line with the latest trends.

  • On May 2 the advanced training “C++ Advanced” with lecturer Doncho Angelov will start: https://bit.ly/3mZhzVA
  • The new course “Containers and Cloud” with lecturer Martin Gradev will introduce you to best practices for creating containers with Docker: https://bit.ly/3oxLkNr
  • The “MySQL” course with lecturer Nikolay Bankin starts on May 10: https://bit.ly/40AS62v
  • With the training “HTML & CSS” with lecturer Konstantin Dankov you will learn to create modern websites with HTML & CSS: https://bit.ly/3V3BP4R
  • The module “Algorithms with Java” with speaker Nikolay Bankin starts on May 22: https://bit.ly/43VJ96G
  • The module “Algorithms with C#” with lecturer Atanas Atanasov starts on May 22: https://bit.ly/3LnfPPh
  • Microsoft Excel module with lecturer Desislava Topuzakova starts on May 25: https://bit.ly/43VP0ZN
  • Course “Microsoft Excel Fundamentals” with lecturer Desislava Topuzakova starts on May 25: https://bit.ly/3Arbe8g

You can find out more about the courses and modules here.

Details

Website

www.softuni.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Software engineering

Digital skills

Web development

Programming

12.05.2023

FEWER RESTRICTIONS ON TEACHING WILL LEAD TO HIGHER QUALITY SECONDARY EDUCATION

By Audience, Basic digital skills, Digital marketing, For children, In education, Media literacy, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
FEWER RESTRICTIONS ON TEACHING WILL LEAD TO HIGHER QUALITY SECONDARY EDUCATION

02.05.2023 |

Time to consider differentiated remuneration to retain good teachers in priority subjects

The frameworks set out by the Ministry of Education are the stumbling block in the modern training of young talent. The inability to have the power to implement a newer and genuinely useful approach to training processes. Freedom must be given. The head teacher should be able to assign classes to people from the business who within 4-5 hours can come and teach. This will certainly motivate the students, give them another perspective, and motivate the teachers, which in turn will raise the level and lead to better quality education in the state.

Around this opinion united teachers from the Professional High School of Computer Modeling and Computer Systems – city. Varna and Professional School of Computer Science and Mathematical Analysis “Prof. Minko Balkanski – town of Stara Zagora at the next meeting-discussion organized by BASCOM with IT schools in Bulgaria. At the meetings some of the most successful technology schools present and exchange best practices from their training models in order to study their experience and multiply it in other cities of the country. The moderator of the meeting was Ivan Rusev – part of the BASCOM working group that deals with education issues.

Both schools in Varna and Stara Zagora were established less than three years ago and are already an established centre of attraction for young people from their respective regions. Eng. Vyara Dukova, Director of the Professional High School of Computer Modelling and Computer Systems in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. Varna, said that the curriculum is key for any high school. “The main thing we rely on is that in the elective classes children study mathematics. We believe that no engineer or programmer would be successful if they don’t have a good level of math knowledge. The idea of student learning is to achieve lasting knowledge in something, not to go over material that students cannot understand and master. It’s important for us to build a foundation that the business or university will then build on.”

Eng. Dukova is adamant that today’s children are very different in their perceptions and we should find an approach and language to them. “We have tried to build a model where university professors enter the classes at high school level. This was not a successful practice because the university lecturer imparts a knowledge while the student should be taught. Much more examples and work with children at the high school level is needed,” she says.

Kamelia Krumova, Director of PGKNMA “prof. Minko Balkanski” – town of Stara Zagora

The issue of personnel is another big topic that was discussed in the meeting.

“It is very difficult to find teachers who meet the requirements and at the same time to be able to retain them. Often they come to us for a period of time, we put resources into their education and before long the IT industry swallows them up. Teaching is not just a job, it’s a cause and it’s not for everyone,” said Kamelia Krumova, director of Prof. Minko Balkanski” – town of Stara Zagora. Kamelia Krumova added that we have many applications for teachers from people from other sectors, such as banking, who once acquired teaching qualifications and decided to try their hand as teachers years later. There is a need to find a mechanism to support these people, for example to update their knowledge and assess it, because in general there is a mistrust and among these candidates there may be many valuable educators with unrealised potential. As an advice to future technology schools in other cities, Ms. Krumova stressed that it is absolutely important to be able to rely on a core of great teachers in the first place, as well as on the strong support of the local government – the formula for success of the school in the city of Krumova. The main reason for the success of Stara Zagora’s school.

Dobroslav Dimitrov raised the topic of how long it takes teachers to prepare their materials and what a big effort it is. “I myself am the co-founder of a coder training academy, which I have been developing for 10 years and I know how labor-intensive the process is. I can boldly say that since two months we are much more productive thanks to the AI-based tools we implemented. It’s a colossal transition that can solve in a large percentage the problems with content creation or a complete course. Artificial intelligence could help teachers, for example, to come up with specific assignments or coursework for each student in a way that is interesting and personalised to their level of knowledge and understanding. Using these tools, good materials can be prepared and the overall teaching process can be improved. This frees up creative resources that could be directed towards students. The application of artificial intelligence makes sure that the new juniors are at the level of midlevel and this is already happening,” said Dobroslav Dimitrov.

The participants in the discussion were in consensus that at least twice a year IT school principals, together with representatives of the Ministry of Education and Science and business, need to meet to exchange information and share cases that can find their solution through such discussions. They re-emphasized the importance of having a regular government and a Minister of Education as soon as possible to address all the issues raised.

Details

Website

www.basscom.org

Target audience

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital skills for children

Digital technology

Digital skills

Artificial Intelligence

11.05.2023

HOW TALENT IS DEVELOPED – TBS ACADEMY

By AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, For all, For ICT professionals, For the workforce, In education, IoT, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
HOW TALENT IS DEVELOPED - TBS ACADEMY

28.04.2023 |

The shortage of staff in the IT sector is an undeniable fact. The right way to address it is multi-layered and dynamic, just like the industry itself. “TBS Academy” was established with a clear mission – to offer the best practical and personalized training in the field of IT infrastructure.

Established in 2021, “TBS Academy” has been able to train a total of 40 professionals, 21 of whom are already working in the company, having chosen the department they want to develop in themselves. Completely free of charge, the Academy enables anyone with an interest in the field to not only gain knowledge, but also to get a chance for future career development at TBS after successfully completing the training. At its core are the drive of the teaching team and a clear awareness of a holistic transformation of learners. The academy is gaining popularity, starting with 25 candidates in 2021, a number that has grown significantly to 122 for the last training.

A new, more ambitious stage in the Academy’s history, encouraged by its great success, is its expansion to other Balkan countries following the same model, with TBS offices becoming educational hubs of sorts. Up-to-date, different and practically oriented, the Academy successfully combines ambition and the drive for knowledge with the need for well-trained IT staff.

About the Academy

The training starts with a three-month technology-focused theoretical part that covers the basics of modern IT infrastructure. Upon successful completion of the first stage, it progresses to a paid three-month practical internship, during which trainees get the opportunity to get involved in real company projects on an ongoing basis. For many, the final step is to start a job at TBS that guides them in their overall career development.

After gaining hands-on experience, new experts are encouraged to take a company-sponsored, internationally recognized certification exam. For this purpose, the Academy’s own certification centre, part of the Pearson VUE network, is located in the TBS office in Sofia. It is also available to external candidates. The centre offers certification exams of leading IT companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, VMware, Dell, IBM and many others. Nearly 300 certification exams have been conducted in the last year, half of them by TBS employees and the other half by external candidates.

Since human resource is the core of TBS’s progress, creating professionals with the right focus and understanding of market needs is an absolute must. It is crucial to invest in initiatives that support and develop young professionals. Thanks to optimized training content, adequate planning and vast teaching experience, the “TBS Academy” is considered one of the main pillars in the company’s strategic development. Future trainings will build on the knowledge base in line with TBS’s long-term vision and with a focus on current expert needs.

Details

Website

www.capital.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for all

Digital skills for the workforce

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Digital skills

Software engineering

Web development

Mobile apps

Big data

Telecommunications

AI

Blockchain

10.05.2023

SCHOLARSHIP FUND “GO, STUDY AND COME BACK”

By 5G & WiFi, AI & ML, AR & VR, Audience, Big data, Blockchain, Computing, Cybersecurity, Digital marketing, For ICT professionals, In education, IoT, Microelectronics, Mobile apps, NEWS, Robotics, Software engineering, Technology, Telecommunications, Web developmentNo Comments
SCHOLARSHIP FUND "GO, STUDY AND COME BACK"

28.04.2023 |

The Tuk-Tam “Go, Study and Come Back” Scholarship Fund is launching for the eighth consecutive year and will be the largest ever with a total fund of nearly 100,000 BGN!

The fund is a Tuk-Tam initiative that supports motivated Bulgarians to continue their education with a Master’s degree at a foreign university, and then apply what they learn here – this is how we build a brighter future in Bulgaria.

You can take part in the competition REGARDLESS of the field and country you apply to, as long as you have:

  • Bulgarian citizenship
  • Bachelor’s or Master’s degree obtained by 31 July 2023
  • Started application process to a Master’s programme at a foreign university
  • At least B2 level of proficiency in the language in which the training will be conducted
  • A clear intention to pursue a career in Bulgaria.

If you are targeting an Engineering (or similar) Master’s degree abroad, you can apply for the 10,000 BGN Specialist Scholarship from Sensata Technologies.

Apply by May 10! More about the fields, as well as all the conditions and the application form, can be found here.

Details

Website

www.tuk-tam.bg 

Target audience

Digital skills for ICT professionals

Digital skills in education

Digital technology

Software engineering

Telecommunications

Big data

Mobile apps

Web development

Artificial Intelligence

Cybersecurity

10.05.2023