2012 EDEN Annual 2012 EDEN Annual Conference on Conference on Open Learning Open Learning

GenerationsGenerationsPortugal, 6-9 June 2012Portugal, 6-9 June 2012

Mr. Gyula HEGYIMember of the Cabinet of Commissioner Andor

O homem nao é um animalÉ uma carne inteligenteEmbora ás vezes doente

Man is not an animalIs an intelligent flesh

Although sometimes ill

Fernando Pessoa (1935) - (Love is the Essential)

Greetings fromGreetings from

Commissioner Mr László Andor

Commissioner Ms Androulla Vassiliou Head of Cabinet

Ms Anabela Gago

who should like, but couldn't come to who should like, but couldn't come to your beautiful city Porto your beautiful city Porto

The strategic and effective use of The strategic and effective use of information and communication information and communication technologies (ICT) and the technologies (ICT) and the knowledge, skills, competences and knowledge, skills, competences and inventiveness of the European inventiveness of the European workforce and citizens is one of the workforce and citizens is one of the conditions for the success of Europe conditions for the success of Europe 2020:2020:

to raise the employment rate (20-64) to 75%to raise the employment rate (20-64) to 75% to reduce poverty, to have at least to reduce poverty, to have at least 20 20

million fewer people in or at risk of million fewer people in or at risk of poverty and social exclusionpoverty and social exclusion

Digital competence is one of the core 21st Digital competence is one of the core 21st century skills that citizens of all ages should century skills that citizens of all ages should acquire through education acquire through education training for employability training for employability for being (e-)included in their daily lives (i.e. being for being (e-)included in their daily lives (i.e. being

able and competent to use e-health, e-public able and competent to use e-health, e-public services etc.). services etc.).

Not enough to use: Not enough to use: people need to be able to make use of new people need to be able to make use of new

technologies in a critical, creative, innovative and technologies in a critical, creative, innovative and collaborative waycollaborative way

Most of the jobs will be related in one way or Most of the jobs will be related in one way or another to ICT. Using ICT efficiently, effectively another to ICT. Using ICT efficiently, effectively and in a digital competent way will not be the and in a digital competent way will not be the exception, but the ruleexception, but the rule

By developing and enhancing digital By developing and enhancing digital skills, all EU citizens, and in particular skills, all EU citizens, and in particular groups at risk of socio-economic groups at risk of socio-economic exclusionexclusion will be able (should be able) to participate will be able (should be able) to participate

on a more equal footing in the digital on a more equal footing in the digital economy. economy.

Having digital skills, people will have Having digital skills, people will have better job prospectsbetter job prospects enjoy more opportunities for learning, enjoy more opportunities for learning,

creating, participating and being confident creating, participating and being confident in the use of digital tools, media and related in the use of digital tools, media and related content.content.

Sad numbers: Sad numbers: 30 % of Europeans are digital illiterate30 % of Europeans are digital illiterate 150 million Europeans have never used 150 million Europeans have never used

the internetthe internet Who are they?Who are they?

Mostly older people, or people on low Mostly older people, or people on low incomes, the unemployed, immigrants, incomes, the unemployed, immigrants, and the less educated and at risk of and the less educated and at risk of social exclusion in generalsocial exclusion in general

In many cases their exclusion is due to In many cases their exclusion is due to a lack of user skills, such as digital and a lack of user skills, such as digital and media literacy and competences. media literacy and competences.

So the lack of digital skills, the so-called digital So the lack of digital skills, the so-called digital divide will negatively affect: divide will negatively affect: Productivity, growth, competitiveness, innovation, Productivity, growth, competitiveness, innovation,

employment and social cohesion in Europeemployment and social cohesion in Europe Unemployment and lack of working forces go together!Unemployment and lack of working forces go together! In Europe we have a shortage of ICT practitioner skillsIn Europe we have a shortage of ICT practitioner skills Europe risks not being able to fill as many as 700,000 Europe risks not being able to fill as many as 700,000

IT jobs by 2015. IT jobs by 2015. It is not about only the IT jobs, almost every jobs It is not about only the IT jobs, almost every jobs

require certain kind of ICT knowledge:require certain kind of ICT knowledge: it is estimated that 90% of jobs will require e-skills by it is estimated that 90% of jobs will require e-skills by

2015. 2015. Improving the availability of e-skills involves Improving the availability of e-skills involves

actions:actions: both at European and national level, in several areas, both at European and national level, in several areas,

primarily education, training, industrial and labour primarily education, training, industrial and labour market policiesmarket policies

European Level – Frameworks: European Level – Frameworks: Europe 2020 flagshipEurope 2020 flagship i initiatives nitiatives 'An agenda for new skills and jobs' 'An agenda for new skills and jobs'

This Agenda presents a set of concrete This Agenda presents a set of concrete actions that will help:actions that will help:

Stepping up reforms to improve Stepping up reforms to improve flexibility flexibility and securityand security in the labour market (' in the labour market ('flexicurityflexicurity') ')

Equipping people with the Equipping people with the right skillsright skills for for the jobs of today and tomorrow the jobs of today and tomorrow

Improving the Improving the quality of jobsquality of jobs and and ensuring better ensuring better working conditionsworking conditions

Improving the conditions for Improving the conditions for job creationjob creation

'Youth on the move' 'Youth on the move' Goals:Goals:

making education and training more relevant to making education and training more relevant to young people's needs young people's needs

encouraging more of them to take advantage of EU encouraging more of them to take advantage of EU grants to study or train in another country grants to study or train in another country

encouraging EU countries to take measures encouraging EU countries to take measures simplifying the transition from education to work. simplifying the transition from education to work.

See also: See also: Youth on the Move website – provides more Youth on the Move website – provides more

information and practical links for young people information and practical links for young people looking to study, train or work abroad.looking to study, train or work abroad.

Youth Opportunities Initiative – actions to drive Youth Opportunities Initiative – actions to drive down youth unemployment.down youth unemployment.

'Digital Agenda' 'Digital Agenda' As part of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF)As part of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) (19/10/2011) (19/10/2011) The European Commission has proposed to spend The European Commission has proposed to spend

almost €9.2 billion from 2014 to 2020 on pan-almost €9.2 billion from 2014 to 2020 on pan-European projects to give EU citizens and European projects to give EU citizens and businesses access to high-speed broadband businesses access to high-speed broadband networks and the services that run on themnetworks and the services that run on them

The funding, part of the proposed Connecting The funding, part of the proposed Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), would take the form of both Europe Facility (CEF), would take the form of both equity and debt instruments and grantsequity and debt instruments and grants

It would complement private investment and public It would complement private investment and public money at local, regional and national level and EU money at local, regional and national level and EU structural or cohesion funds. At least €7 billion structural or cohesion funds. At least €7 billion would be available for investment in high-speed would be available for investment in high-speed broadband infrastructure. broadband infrastructure.

A coherent Employment package – A coherent Employment package – tabled by my Commissioner Andor – has tabled by my Commissioner Andor – has just been adopted referring explicitly to just been adopted referring explicitly to the huge needs for more ICT skilled the huge needs for more ICT skilled employees and thus graduatesemployees and thus graduates

It has a so-called Staff Working It has a so-called Staff Working Document on ICTDocument on ICT

Some interesting data and Some interesting data and conclusions:conclusions:There is a real "digital divide" in different There is a real "digital divide" in different

Member States:Member States:% persons employed with ICT user skills

0.0

5.0

10.0

15.0

20.0

25.0

30.0

35.0

And, strangely enough, the number of computer science graduates is decreasing in Europe since 2006 Surprisingly low interest of young people in a career as an ICT practitioner…

More general problem: as former More general problem: as former HU Prime Minister Bajnai said, it is HU Prime Minister Bajnai said, it is not healthy if more youngsters want not healthy if more youngsters want to study psychology then to study psychology then engineeringengineering

Computer science graduates in EU27

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

140000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

ICT staff retirement forecasts, EU27ICT staff retirement forecasts, EU27

It shows that more and more skilled people will leave It shows that more and more skilled people will leave the ICT staffthe ICT staff

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

140000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

Virtually all young people now have at least Virtually all young people now have at least basic ICT skills and are familiar with a basic ICT skills and are familiar with a number of internet applicationsnumber of internet applications

BUT: the number of them who make the jump BUT: the number of them who make the jump from ‘cool’ ICT (entertainment) to ‘boring’ from ‘cool’ ICT (entertainment) to ‘boring’ ICT (such as entering a graduate ICT ICT (such as entering a graduate ICT programme, a vocational ICT education, or programme, a vocational ICT education, or creating their own web company) remains creating their own web company) remains limitedlimited

Despite the good employment prospects in Despite the good employment prospects in the sector labour supply is scarce particularly the sector labour supply is scarce particularly among youngsters and this reticence to take among youngsters and this reticence to take a career in the field of ICT remains a a career in the field of ICT remains a serious serious challenge for policy-makerschallenge for policy-makers

Regular Internet use in the EU27 in 2010Regular Internet use in the EU27 in 2010

Sector chart: the amplitude of each sector represents the demographic weight of each age-education group in total EU27 population while its height represents the percentage of regular Internet use for that group

Reorientation of mid-career Reorientation of mid-career jobseekers - problem of mobility jobseekers - problem of mobility and cost of the training and cost of the training A major alternative source of skilled ICT A major alternative source of skilled ICT

workers are: workers are: unemployed mid-career workers from unemployed mid-career workers from

related fields such as engineering, related fields such as engineering, mathematics or sciences, with adequate mathematics or sciences, with adequate retraining, as they usually share the same retraining, as they usually share the same basic bodies of knowledgebasic bodies of knowledge

important role of training centres and non-important role of training centres and non-formal community groupsformal community groups

However there are ICT vacancies and However there are ICT vacancies and persistent unemployment among workers in persistent unemployment among workers in related fields in the same time related fields in the same time Why? geographical immobility, as job vacancies Why? geographical immobility, as job vacancies

and unemployed workers may be in different and unemployed workers may be in different areas, training cost and adaptation periodareas, training cost and adaptation period

EU commitment is also shown through other EU commitment is also shown through other numerous actions numerous actions

Member States are supported through the Open Member States are supported through the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) and Lifelong Method of Coordination (OMC) and Lifelong Learning Programme when embedding digital Learning Programme when embedding digital competences in their teaching, curricula, competences in their teaching, curricula, learning outcomes, and assessmentlearning outcomes, and assessment

Greater use of computers for communicating Greater use of computers for communicating between schools and multi-cultural dialogue is between schools and multi-cultural dialogue is encouraged through the 'eTwinning'encouraged through the 'eTwinning'[1][1] of of schools (action under the EU's Lifelong schools (action under the EU's Lifelong Learning Programme that creates online Learning Programme that creates online communities of teachers and schools across communities of teachers and schools across Europe) Europe)

In the beginning of June 2012, the services of In the beginning of June 2012, the services of Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou will publish a Commissioner Androulla Vassiliou will publish a call for proposals (“Creative Classrooms”) to call for proposals (“Creative Classrooms”) to support governments in undertaking policy support governments in undertaking policy experimentations for the development of new experimentations for the development of new learning environments and of creative and learning environments and of creative and innovative teaching through the use of ICTinnovative teaching through the use of ICT

Later this year, the Commission will launch a Later this year, the Commission will launch a 'supplement to EUROPASS on e-skills' to 'supplement to EUROPASS on e-skills' to enhance the recognition of digital competences enhance the recognition of digital competences of each individual of each individual

All of these actions and initiatives require good All of these actions and initiatives require good cooperation between education and business, cooperation between education and business, governments, schools, companies, organisations governments, schools, companies, organisations and the European Union as a wholeand the European Union as a whole

A collaborative effort - at Member States LevelA collaborative effort - at Member States Level Delivering the right skills and competences to Delivering the right skills and competences to

learners in the 21st century calls for radical learners in the 21st century calls for radical pedagogical changes by education and training pedagogical changes by education and training systemssystems

Changes must be learner-centered and focus on Changes must be learner-centered and focus on transversal skills such as collaboration skills, transversal skills such as collaboration skills, communication skills and ICT skills communication skills and ICT skills

Learning e-skills at an early age will help them Learning e-skills at an early age will help them to find a good job and build and follow a to find a good job and build and follow a successful careersuccessful career

Let's utilize the natural curiosity Let's utilize the natural curiosity built in young children, within and built in young children, within and outside the classroom, to help and outside the classroom, to help and enable them to take an active role enable them to take an active role with ICT with ICT

The reform of curricula and The reform of curricula and pedagogical approaches is a pedagogical approaches is a Member State competence and the Member State competence and the Commission is ready to work with Commission is ready to work with you to make it happenyou to make it happen

EU banner képEU banner kép G&G - Grandparents and G&G - Grandparents and

Grandchildren Grandchildren EuropeEurope

The Pan-European Grandparents & Grandchildren (G&G) initiative is aimed to promote and facilitate digital active citizenship of elderly people

The original aspect of the initiative is that the teachers of the elderly are young volunteer students in the role of “grandchildren” assisting on a one-to-one basis the “grandparents” in learning very basic internet browsing and e-mail skills

How?How?

1. A tutor trains the "grandchildren", the 1. A tutor trains the "grandchildren", the volunteer students in the schoolsvolunteer students in the schools

2. Each grandchild trains a "grandparent" - In 2. Each grandchild trains a "grandparent" - In each participating school an ICT laboratory each participating school an ICT laboratory connected with internet is made available for connected with internet is made available for these adult learning classes these adult learning classes

3. "Grandparents" practice in the laboratory – in 3. "Grandparents" practice in the laboratory – in the schoolthe school   It is not a new initiative, it was born in 1998 in It is not a new initiative, it was born in 1998 in Italy and since then it has spread into Estonia, Italy and since then it has spread into Estonia, Greece, Finland, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Greece, Finland, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, France, Germany, Sweden, Romania and Spain, France, Germany, Sweden, Romania and Latvia, but it is a part of the Active Ageing Latvia, but it is a part of the Active Ageing initiativesinitiatives

Q-AGEING: Quality ageing in urban environment

Germany / Poland / Slovenia / Italy / Hungary

An important part of this project was providing computers and basic e-skills for very old (mostly over

75) , lonely people with slight mental disordersAfter one year of learning and using the internet, e-mailing and visiting the social media they were re-

examined by other doctors, and their mental disorders HAVE DISAPPEARED

And lastly:

Portuguese Platform of Age-Friendly Cities

Around 100 Portuguese municipalities as well as 14 universities and several civil society organisations committed to joining the project “cIDADES”in the 2nd phase of the project each municipality will evaluate their own friendliness for its citizens over 55 years of age by carrying out a local survey addressed to senior citizens

Portugal / Porto

Toolkit “Towards and Age-Friendly world”: the Toolkit will include guidelines with practical examples and resources to those who wish to become an age-friendly city