The EU4Digital Facility organised a major three-day event – the Digital Skills Forum – from 27-29 October. The Forum brought together representatives and experts from all six Eastern partner countries and provided a valuable platform for networking, sharing insights, initiatives and best practices, as well as a learning experience from EU practices on digital skills initiatives. 

Overall, the Forum provided valuable insights in the fields of digital skills, including workforce up-skilling and re-skilling and the management of National Coalitions for Digital Skills and Jobs.

The first day of the Forum focused on setting clear goals and coordinating national digital skills initiatives, as well as operationalising National Coalitions. The day began with presentations from Mr. Carmel Cachia, National Coalition coordinator in Malta, eSkills Malta Foundation and Mrs. Ulrike Domany-Funtan, Secretary General at fit4internet and the National Coalition coordinator in Austria, and followed by a workshop on operationalising National Coalitions carried out by the EU4Digital Facility. 

The second day of the Forum was dedicated to workforce skills, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on digital skills requirements. The day was started by presentations from Mr. Giuseppe Iacono, Coordinator of the Italian National Coalition and Digital skills Initiative Repubblica Digitale and Mrs. Signe Brike, Director of Baltic Computer academy. The day continued with a presentation from the EU4Digital Facility on European competence frameworks, their use cases and Job Role Profile application as well as a workshop for Eastern partner countries to share their experience on dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

On the last day of the Forum, a virtual study visit to Ireland was organised where members of the Irish National Coalition presented their digital skills initiatives as well as the background and practical aspects of the Irish National Coalition. During the study visit, Eastern partner country representatives were able to learn from several members of the Irish National Coalition:

• Mrs. Mary Cleary, Secretary general of Irish Computer society.
• Mr. Alan Power, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. 
• Mrs. Eilis Mernagh, Office of the Government Chief Information Office.
• Mr. Dave Feenan, ICT Skillnet.
• Mr. Tom Farrell, CareersNews.
• Mr. Mark Kelly, An Cosán.
• Mrs. Adrienne Webb, Computers in Education Society of Ireland.

Presentations from all days of the Forum can be accessed here.