Digital literacy is the set of skills required to achieve digital competence, which is strongly correlated with employability, adaptability and greater productivity of the workforce, but is also linked to social participation, integration and the use of public services. Low levels of digital literacy do not only affect the groups at risk of exclusion, but overall impinge on the economy and society.
In addition, as technology evolves rapidly, the skills needed to remain digitally literate also evolve at fast speed, thus creating a need for continuous development and refinement of digital literacy skills. These skills are not confined to technical skills only. The digital skills of the 21th century are also so-called transversal skills related to innovation, creativity, collaboration, sharing, and others.
This community wants to display the significance and necessity towards a higher level of digital skills across groups at risk of exclusion due to their socio-economic status, age, or level of education, such as: elderly people, unemployed (including in particular early school leavers), lower education groups, people with disabilities, marginalised young people, women, and immigrants. "Intermediaries" may be at risk of exclusion as well, due to their age, low skills and pay levels, and are included therefore in our focus groups; we define "intermediaries" all individuals or organisations in direct contact with the target groups to provide relevant support, care and assistance, either formally, like social assistants and carers, or informally, as relatives.
Intermediaries such as related institutions, employment public agencies, associations and NGOs, have an important role to play in the advancement of digital literacy. Their involvement in the user and supply side is particularly acknowledged within the "digital literacy" community: on one hand, this involvement can potentially support training and increase a user's interest and skill-set; on the other, it can make ICTs and internet access greatly available and affordable.
This community will address the importance of advancing and improving digital literacy, potentially providing people at risk of exclusion with the opportunity and the necessary skills to enter or re-enter the labour market faster, and in due course, thus increasing the possibility of their social inclusion.
The community welcomes any members' contribution on projects or initiatives related to digital literacy. Intermediaries may also share their experiences and views on policy issues regarding the digital inclusion of groups.
Join the Digital Literacy community to be instantly informed and remain up-to-date on the latest news, relevant events and workshops across Europe; browse library material, including reports, presentations, surveys and articles, while contribute your own content, using the epractice.eu tools; express your views, share your experiences and debate on policy or other issues regarding digital literacy; and last but not least, network and interact with other members and be invited to present during workshops and events.
Please, do not hesitate to contact the facilitators at eInclusion-epractice@eurodyn.com for more information.
This is an initiative of DG INFSO. Other DGs are active in this area, notably DG EAC, DG EMPL and DG ENTR.
