Delivering the Digital Agenda for Europe
"...digital literacy is an issue of fairness, a socio-econmic issue..."
Neelie Kroes - Keynote address at 1st European Round Table.
"...digital literacy is an issue of fairness, a socio-economic issue..." Neelie Kroes - Keynote address at 1st European Round Table |
As part of its Europe 2020 Strategy to promote Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth, the European Commission launched seven flagship initiatives. The Digital Agenda for Europe (DAE) initiative aims to promote economic recovery and improve social inclusion through a more digitally proficient Europe. Click here for more about the Digital Agenda for Europe
As the leading international digital skills certification authority, ECDL Foundation and its pan-European network of national operators have affirmed their commitment to the goals of the Digital Agenda for Europe, and have pledged to support its implementation. Specifically, they have committed to a number of high-level public targets. In addition, ECDL Foundation has launched a comprehensive campaign designed to raise the profile of the Digital Agenda for Europe, and offers its considerable expertise and that of its extensive network of pan-European operators in ensuring the successful implementation of the goals below which support the implementation of the Digital Agenda for Europe.
On behalf of President Barroso, the Commission welcomed the commitment of ECDL Foundation to contribute to the DAE, and said that “... fostering digital literacy and skills across Europe requires having all relevant stakeholders on board, in particular those active in the field such as the ECDL Foundation. It is in this spirit that the Commission is putting considerable emphasis and efforts in opportunities for them to share the actions they intend to put in place and their contributions to the Digital Agenda for Europe"
As part of the campaign to ‘deliver the Digital Agenda for Europe’ and achieve the targets outlined below ECDL Foundation organised the 1st European Round Table – Delivering Digital Literacy, Skills and e-Inclusion where Ms. Neelie Kroes Vice-President of the European Commission delivered a keynote address via video link.
ECDL Foundation recently published the report ‘Delivering the Digital Agenda for Europe’ which analyses the key themes and challenges that going to shape the European skills debate in 2012 and 2013. This report builds on the output of the 1st European Round Table and it incorporates the subsequent work and feedback, gathered from Member State and EU-level participants, in the months following that event.
For more information about the European Round Table including the Agenda please use the navigation that appears on the left of this page
ECDL Foundation’s 5-Step Commitment to the Digital Agenda for Europe
- Engage with 5,000,000 citizens to ensure they have the opportunity to acquire digital skills and competence
- Decrease by 3% the current number of 150 million people who do not have the skills to use the Internet, and promote the use of e-government services and the benefits of e-commerce to these future e-citizens
- Promote digital skills development programmes in all levels of education throughout Europe to enhance and modernise education systems while providing today’s youth with the skills necessary for mobility in tomorrow’s labour market
- Take special measures to ensure that marginalised groups such as the unemployed, older people, people with disabilities, and those in remote locations are empowered to participate in the Information Society
- Work with Member States in the development of long-term digital literacy policies, using certification as a measureable outcome in the return on investment in digital skills programmes, and ensuring that ICT skills are incorporated in national education policies.
