Digitalisation is permeating all policy sectors and everyday life. Nowadays, citizens are required to have more digital skills in order to participate in modern society and to advance their professional career.However, according to the factsheet from the Tallinn Digital Summit (2017), 44% of the European population does not have any basic digital skills, although soon 9 out of 10 jobs will require digital competences. It is moreover predicted that in 2020 the ICT (Information and Communication Technology) sector will face a lack of 500,000 experts. Despite improvements in the data and clear commitment of the political side, Europe is still lacking the digitally-skilled workforce needed to fill the gaps.

This timely international Symposium will provide an important opportunity to exchange views on the recent initiatives launched in the framework of the EU’s New Skills Agenda. Delegates will get a chance to analyse the opportunities to integrate the digital sector in citizens’ life, its benefits, and the possibilities offered by comprehensive and sustainable training. The symposium will touch upon the topic of digital inclusiveness and how different organisations can lead the process. The participants will share best practice and discuss their digital skills adaptability in different sectors.

Overview:

• Session 1 - Analysing the Impact of European Legislation in the Field of Digital Skills and Reflecting on the Way Forward
• Session 2 - Addressing Digital Inclusiveness: A Real Possibility to Unify Fragmented European Society? 
• Session 3 - Combining the Digital Literacy and Capacity Building Programmes with Youth Employment Initiatives 
• Session 4 - Unlocking the Potential of European Industries: Developing Digital Skills to Boost Economic Competetiveness   

Delegates will:

• Understand the European initiatives aimed at enhancing capacities in the digital sector
• Assess changes in the modern working environment due to the digitalisation
• Explore the opportunities to finance digital education under different Europe-funded programmes (Horizon 2020, Erasmus+)
• Discover ways to build long term strategies to enhance digital literacy and benefit from digital training
• Debate how to address social changes brought about by a growing need of digital skills
• Analyse actions undertaken to ensure a larger inclusion of women in the ICT sector
• Identify ways to address European geographic fragmentation in digitisation
• Evaluate the role of digital skills in future education and ways to increase their presence in national curricula
• Gain insights on youth inclusion in job markets using digital training