 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
 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
With less than 40 days left till Get Online Week 2013 (18-24 March) will start all over Europe, in Latvia the preparation activities have reached their peak.
As in previous years, the GOW 2013 in Latvia is coordinated by the Latvian Information and communication Technology association (LIKTA), together with The Ministry of Environment Protection and regional development.
Already more than 100 partners from the public sector, the ICT industry and the NGO sector have signed up for the week activities, offering different e-Skills and e-services related trainings, competitions, workshops and online seminars.
» Read more at our community site
 In a joint effort to fight European youth unemployment, Telecentre-Europe’s Chair Mara Jakobsone and Microsoft’s Executive Vice-President Brad Smith have signed a ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ as part of Microsoft’s YouthSpark, a global initiative launched last september.
The ceremony took place on January 22nd in Brussels, during the high level event Youth, the key to Europe’s future happening at Microsoft’s Executive Briefing Center. Representatives from the public, private and nonprofit sectors discussed the challenges facing young people in Europe, with European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, Androulla Vassiliou, as one of the keynote speakers.
Two other pan-European organizations, The European Youth Forum and Junior Achievement – Young Enterprise also signed the partnership with the YouthSpark program, seeking to empower youth to imagine and realize their full potential by connecting them with greater opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship.
» Read more on our community site
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