ŠAVŠ/TAČR Digital Czechia in a Digital Europe

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public interest (educational, scientific and cultural institutions) by supporting and popularizing the effective use of the Internet and ICT technologies. In accordance with the stated goal, the foundation offers projects: • Development of ICT skills. • Use of ICT technologies upon completion of training. • Safe Internet use. In order to raise the digital skills of the general public, especially people lacking computer literacy, the foundation certifies the projects SmartAcademy and SmartLabs. 7 Within SmartAcademy, experienced trainers offer 2.5-hour courses in libraries throughout Estonia. Course participants will get acquainted with the “basic alphabet of the use of smart technologies and tools” (ABC of smart devices) – the essence of (mobile) data, the possibility of their use, Google search, (safe) use of e-mail and smart technologies, etc. passed 100,000 adults (approximately 10% of the adult population of Estonia). The SmartLabs project has focused on establishing a network of extracurricular ICT hobby clubs throughout Estonia. Among other things, these clubs focus on popularizing ICT professions as promising career opportunities. The foundation’s latest initiative is the establishment (in 2017) of the Estonian Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition 8 . In addition to the mentioned private companies, the members of the coalition are also two Estonian ministries – the Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Economy. The coalition responds to the strategies set by the Estonian government – Digital Agenda 2020, Lifelong Learning Strategy 2020 and Knowledge-based Estonia 2014–2020. Accordingly, it will focus in particular on the following tasks: integrating digital technologies into everyday working life; further developing the necessary digital skills of adults and employees. Ireland has a very well-developed and potentially inspiring long-term strategy for the development of skills, including digital ones, for the Czech Republic – Ireland’s National Skills Strategy 2025 9 . It was prepared by the Irish Ministry of Education and Skills. The key tasks and goals of this strategy are: • Emphasis on developing the skills that society, its economy and learners really need. • Active participation of employers in the development and use of skills that will increase the competitiveness and productivity of organizations. 8 Estonian Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition, 2017, see http://vaatamaailma.ee/estonian-digital-skills-and- jobs-coalition. 9 Ireland’s National Skills Strategy 2025, see https://www.education.ie/en/Publications/Policy-Re ports/ pub_national_skills_strategy_2025.pdf.