 Clara Centeno (IPTS) speaking at Spark 2013 on ICT skills and employability Telecentre Europe was one of the co-organisers of Spark: the 4th Global Forum on Telecentres, held on May 28-29 in Granada, Spain. The event was a great success: more than 1200 participants from the information and communication technology for development (ICT4D) sector as well as private, public, and non-profit organizations from around the globe came to Granada for two days of learning, networking and sharing.
Telecentre Europe led four important panel sessions at Spark, panels that presented motivated speakers from a variety of organisations in Europe and beyond.
At the first morning session titled Telecentres: Youth, Skills and Employment Chris Coward from the University of Washington provided a background on ICT skills development and stated that the role of telecentre operators will increasingly be to facilitate ICT skills for the new jobs that are available in ICT sector. Dr Rachel Awad, from Silatech, a social initiative for youth job creation in the Arab world, talked about the high unemployment rate amongst Arab youth (25%) and how Silatech helps by career guidance programmes and partnerships with the private sector.
Clara Centeno from the Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS- European Commission) revealed three proposals for action against the risk of ICT exclusion, a problem that may affect up to 25% of youth in Europe today and prevent them from accessing ICT skills and jobs. In first place, Ms. Centeno highlighted the need to fight the digital divide which is still present in Europe, then to adopt a broad view of digital competencies (a framework has been developed by the European Commission and the next step is to start filling the enormous number of job vacancies projected in ICT sector) and lastly, there is a need to have a holistic approach to individual needs when it comes to ICT.
Manus Hanratty, from “Fast Track to IT” (FIT), the Irish member of Telecentre Europe, talked about bridging the gap between ICT job vacancies and the shortage of ICT skills through an initiative led by FIT in Ireland that began 13 years ago. They went to disadvantaged areas to train young people to enter into digital jobs. Their model was based on bringing employers and government together, using government resources to build the curriculum based on employers needs. They then set up a learning path and a support system for at least three years after the course. The result: 9000 people were put in ICT jobs! Moreover, the initiative changed perspectives on the potential of disadvantaged groups, reduction in poverty and social exclusion.
For presentation slides from the speakers, please contact our communication manager Masha Tarle.
 Nearly half of the European labour force (47%) [1] is not confident their computer and internet skills are sufficient in today’s labour market, while the demand for employees with ICT skills is growing considerably, by around 3% a year [2]. By 2015, 900.000 ICT job vacancies are forecasted to remain unfilled [3].
The Europe-wide Get Online Week campaign, organized in 26 countries between 18 and 24 March 2013, highlighted the essential role ICT skills play in today’s society and focused on encouraging young people to take up a career in ICT.
The Get Online Week campaign was organized for the fourth time by Telecentre-Europe, a Pan-European Association that represents 37 local network organizations operating across 27 countries and supported by the Get Online Week Alliance – formed by Accenture, Liberty Global and Microsoft.
Youth unemployment in the EU27 is higher than 20% [4], while the unmet demand for e-skills will be high in 2015, at a level that will be as much as double the number of qualified graduates [5]. That’s why the campaign this year focused on youth, especially on how to direct more young people into digital qualifications and jobs.
In the field, 26 national Get Online Week campaign partners joined efforts with ICT companies and public authorities and organized a range of activities in both the urban and rural areas of their countries to empower people to use technologies for better jobs and better lives.
» Continue reading on the GOW website
 During the 2012 edition of the Catalan “Connecta’t” program, 900 citizens were trained. The program reached a very wide range of the population in 24 municipalities of Catalonia (Spain) and was aimed to promote the digital literacy of the unemployed in order to facilitate their search for a job.
 A total of 2145 hours of teaching were given, spread over 143 training modules (A: Digital Literacy, and B: Employment Guidance). All training took place at the facilities of 36 telecenters of the Catalan Network of ICT Points and at the venues of other partners such as libraries or youth information points.
A video report (subtitled in Spanish and Catalan) collects the impressions of various actors who participated in the project while evaluating the impact of the program on the territory.
» Read more at the community site
 Thousands of Europeans were digitally empowered during the Get Online Week campaign of Telecentre-Europe. Between 18 and 24 March 2013, more than 10.000 ICT learning centres, libraries & schools in 26 countries supported over 100.000 people in their online journeys.
Telecentre-Europe is very pleased with the massive effort done by its partners during Get Online Week 2013 and its astonishing outcomes. In just one week, the European ICT learning centres, libraries, schools, etc. have changed the lives of so many people and proved once more why they are at the frontline of digital empowerment and inclusion.
» Continue reading at the GOW website
 On March 18th at 00:00 CET the Get Online Week 2013 (#GOW2013) campaign counter was set to zero. In a joined effort to empower people to use technology to find a job or get more out of life, thousands of Europeans will be reached during the Pan-European campaign that will end on March 24th, at 24h CET.
Together with public authorithies & ICT companies, national campaign partners from almost 30 countries are organizing a whole week of exciting events, training sessions and competitions, taking place in approximately 10.000 European ICT learning centres (also known as telecentres) at public libraries, schools & municipal organisations, located in both urban and rural areas. Continue reading »
Brussels, BELGIUM | 26 FEBRUARY 2013
Today, youth unemployment in the EU27 is higher than 20%. While demand for employees with ICT skills is growing by around 3% a year, pessimistic projections warn that if nothing is done to resolve the mismatch between current skills and needs of the labour market, up to 800.000 (1) ICT practitioners’ vacancies will remain unfilled by 2015.
Accenture, Liberty Global and Microsoft decided to take action. Together with Telecentre-Europe, an umbrella organisation that represents ICT learning centres & library networks from all over Europe, they created the Get Online Week Alliance that will support this year’s Get Online Week campaign – happening between 18-24 March 2013.around 3% a year, pessimistic projections warn that if nothing is done to resolve the mismatch between current skills and needs of the labour market, up to 800.000 (1) ICT practitioners’ vacancies will remain unfilled by 2015.
Continue reading »
 Next April 25th the International Girls in ICT Day will be celebrated. The initiative is backed by ITU Member States and wants to create a global environment that empowers and encourages girls and young women to consider careers in the growing field of ICTs.
 Each year, on the 4th Thursday in April, the International Girls in ICT Day is celebrated. During this day, Ministries of ICT, Education, Labour, Youth, National ICT Regulatory Authorities, ICT companies, academic institutions, relevant UN agencies, NGOs and other stakeholders are encouraged to organize Girls in ICT day events.
During such an event, girls and university students are invited to spend the day at the office of ICT companies and government agencies so they better understand the opportunities the ICT sector holds for their future.
The ITU Secretary General invites all ITU Member States and Sector Members to organize events attracting as many girls and young women as possible.
» Read more on our community site
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