EU appointed Digital champions could work to get funding
for the various national and local coalitions for digital jobs
pledges.
• Examples of training from the industry side were shown by a
representative from Cisco. The Bulgarian National Coalition
for Digital Jobs is closely tied to Cisco Networking Academy.
Another example is an apprenticeship scheme in UK run by
Cisco where the government pays for the training for each
trainee that has been employed at Cisco after the training.
• Some suggestions were offered for improvement of the
Unite-IT network: e.g. the community may work more on
finding out what its users expect to find there, make some
clear difference between informal and formal learning, and
use key words on topics that can then be used in community
discussions so that people can follow their topics of interest
easily.
• There are two upcoming webinars planned in this WG. The first
is on clarifying the e-Competence framework, its importance
and mapping of courses to the framework. The second
seminar will be dedicated to business driven training programs, which provide free learning resources
for young people and the wider community. Companies like Microsoft, HP, Cisco and Autodesk, but
also others will be invited to present their free learning opportunities to the Unite-IT group members.
• There was an interesting discussion regarding the support of the European Commission towards open
source, free technology environments. However, participants agreed that most technology jobs over
the next few years will be created within the industry which uses proprietory technology. Since these
businesses will be creating the future jobs, people need to be trained in developing competences
within this sector, rather than general open source technology.
• Telecentre Europe member organisation “Maks vwz” (Belgium) talked about the “Game Lab” initiative
through which children play games and are then asked if they wish to learn more about programming
them. Gaming provides a powerful motivator for children and young people to look into programming
and start seeing it as potential career choice.
• TE Latvian member “LIKTA” talked about a large public relations campaign in the country that presents
ICT jobs to young people in a positive light with programmers serving as campaign ambassadors.
• In Ireland, TE member “FIT Ltd” trains young people, especially those that are long-term unemployed.
Their courses are designed so that young people get continuous advice and support as to prevent
early dropping out of the trainings. Their success rate is 75% of people that after training go into
employment.
• TE’s Greek member “HePIS” presented the Getbusy.gr website which encourages youth (16 to 27 year
olds) to get education guidance and skills. Online quizzes are used to encourage youth to take courses,
to learn and finally get a prize from private supporters.
• TE’s Lithuanian member “Langas i Ateiti” talked about the EU funded Trans e-scouts project based on
the intergenerational learning method. Activities with young people teaching ICT skills to the elderly
will soon take place in libraries and ICT centres/telecentres around the country. The project has also
created a set of guidelines with modules on how intergenerational learning works in practice.
• Another interesting initiative to watch, that is still in development but is well-known to most
participants, is the YouRock.Jobs platform that allows young people to self-assess and highlight skills
and gain confidence while at the same time being present in database that is accessible to potential
employers. The platform has been translated to 15 languages and a user guide on how to use this tool
for telecentres will soon be shared. The platform already counts with 1,500 user profiles. The next
challenge is to get employers on board and possibly transfer or integrate the YouRock skills portfolio
with the existing and widely used EuroPass.
Keywords: games, coding, awareness-raising, jobs, skills mismatch
Keywords: skills mismatch, employers’ training programmes, GC4DJ, adult education, libraries
Youth Employability
Moderated by Dr. Mara Jakobsone (LIKTA, Latvia)
Highlights:
Working
group 2
• The WG participants generated some ideas for campaigns that TE members or the Unite-IT members
can do at pan-European level. One example would be a campaign targeting parents’ lack of information
about ICT careers.
• Some participants shared their country’s experience with the Youth guarantee as different approaches
and uses of the fund exist. Participants motivated those present to advocate with national governments
that these funds are spent for training programmes for young people.
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Gender Equality
Moderated by Laurence Leseigneur (Interface3, Belgium)
• Gabriela Rosca, librarian at the Pontus Euxinus Library
in Navodari (Romania), presented the project titled
“Handmade and IT for women