Project DIGITS has officially started!
The DIGITS Erasmus+ project-“Soft DIGITal Skills building for TCN women”-has officially started! Read below the press release:
PRESS RELEASE
December 5th, 2022
The DIGITS Erasmus+ project-“Soft DIGITal Skills building for TCN women”-has officially started! The kick-off meeting took place in Athens, Greece
The DIGITS: Soft DIGITal Skills building for TCN women is an Erasmus+ project implemented by partners in Poland, Greece, Romania, Belgium, Austria, and Germany. The project aims to improve the digital inclusion of third-country national (TCN) women through practical tools and tailored educational interventions that will contribute to a better quality of life for them.
WHAT IS THE DIGITS PROJECT ABOUT?
The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the enormous contributions migrants make to their communities across the world, as well as the need for cohesive integration support for the promotion of migrants’ own health and well-being. In many societies, representing a significant portion of the” frontline” workforce, migrants have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic–both physically and in terms of access to information and services. The adaptation of systems to allow for
online service provision has been a key focus for service providers during this global health crisis, but for many migrants–and other vulnerable groups–accessing such online support can be difficult.
The European Commission’s EU action plan on integration and inclusion 2021-2027 highlights particular concerns aroundlack of internet connection, language barriers, lack of e-ID and lack of digital skills on the part of third-country nationals (TCNs) across Europe. More specifically, many migrants that are internet non-users are at particular risk of social isolation, due to theirdigital exclusion. While the pandemic has prompted more innovativeapproaches to service delivery, digital inclusion is of paramount importance.
Although the digital sector is rapidly growing, creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs every year, the share of women in this sector is decreasing. Women and especiallyTCN women are under-represented at all levels in the digital sector in Europe. Women in Poland, Romania and Greece are the least likely to be taking part in the digital economy, either through employment, use of the internet, or skills. TCN women have limited opportunities to access digital skills training and to access digital employment opportunities. Therefore, migrants who lack access to online connectivity, digital devices and skills have been further isolated during the pandemic.
Consequently, the main objective of the DIGITS project is toimprove the digital inclusion of TCN women in selected EU countriesthrough practical tools and tailored educational interventions to ensure a better quality of life for them.
DIGITS at a glance:
➢Primary andsecondary research work with TCN women, professionals, and representatives of public and private stakeholders.
➢Compilation of National Reports and Transnational Report on the Tutoring Support Scheme.
➢Selection of relevant good practices and identificationof the needs and key principles regarding the digital inclusion of TCN women.
➢Design of a capacity building programme (free e-course).
➢Development of an e-learning platform and pilot testing implementations.
➢Delivery of skills-building training of trainers’ programme and pilot delivery of capacity building between stakeholder representatives, professionals and TCN women.
➢Multiplier events in all partners countries where relevant stakeholders will be invited, including migrants’ associations, NGOs working with TCN women, HE/research & VET institutions.
➢Final conference in Brussels, to present the project activities, results, and outcomes to relevant stakeholders and the wider public.
THE CONSORTIUM
The transnational character of DIGITS project adds significant value, since it focuses on developing a common solution for a complicated problem, affecting all countries represented in the consortium.
Leader partner–Coordinator:
•POLISH MIGRATION FORUM (Poland):https://forummigracyjne.org
Partner Organisations:
• SYMPLEXIS (Greece):https://symplexis.eu
• HIP-HUB FOR INNOVATION POLICY S.R.L (Romania):https://hubinno.eu
• DIESIS COOP (Belgium): https://www.diesis.coop
• AUSTRIAN ASSOCIATION OF INCLUSIVE SOCIETY (Austria): https://www.inclusivesociety.at
• BK Consult GbR (Germany): https://bk-con.eu
• GREEK FORUM OF MIGRANTS (Greece):https://www.migrant.gr
THE KICK-OFF MEETING
The hybrid kick-off meeting of the “Soft DIGITal Skills building for TCN women” (DIGITS) project, was hosted by Symplexis, in the premises of the Greek Forum of Migrants, in Athens Greece, on November 28th & 29th 2022. All partners had the opportunity to meet in person and online and discuss thoroughly the next steps, ensuring a shared understanding of the project goals, deliverables, and workflow.
In more details, the meeting’s agenda included presentations of each participating organization, description of the DIGITS project (content, objectives/goals, deliverables, action plan) and discussion on the implementation of Project Result 1 titled “Developing a common understanding regarding the modern digital inclusion needs of TCN women in Europe”which aims to develop a sound and updated
knowledge base necessary for the preparation of the upcoming activities.
In addition, during the fruitful meeting there has been an overview of administrative and financial proceedings, presentation of dissemination and exploitation activities, as well as discussions about the quality management, quality assurance and monitoring and evaluation activities. Until the next transnational meeting, the project partners will be in touch and coordinate their activities via online communication channels, taking all necessary actions to guarantee the success of the project.
Soon the website and the Facebook page of the project will be online.
There are a range of opportunities in each country for adult educators, practitioners, professionals, and volunteers supporting TCNs and learners to get involved in the project. For more information, please contact your in-country partner.
Co-funded by the European Union
The European Commission’s support for the production of this publication does notConstitute an endorsement of the contents, which reflect the views only of the authors,and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein. (Project Number:2021-1-PL01-KA220-ADU-000033746)
