Update 11.07.2024
Winners of the EDSA 2024 have been designated!
On the 4th of July in Brussels, Rehana Schwinninger-Ladak, Head of Unit ‘Interactive technologies, Digital for Culture and Education’, at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Network has publicly awarded top 5 of the most impactful projects registered in the competition, in the field of digital skills.
- Cybersecurity Skills: Hele Norge øver – Secure Practice
- Digital Skills for Education: CitizenCode
- Digital Upskilling @ Work: Digital Inclusion – Digitální inkluze
- Women in ICT Careers: Women Go Tech
- Inclusion in the Digital World: ReDI School of Digital Integration
Details about the EDSA 2024 awards can be found on the Digital Skills & Jobs Platform, here: https://shorturl.at/SkN6g.
Winners of the European Digital Skills Awards 2024 will be announced Thursday, on the 4th of July 2024 in an event in Brussels and the anticipation couldn’t be higher.
In mid-April this year, along with four other European experts, Andrei Kelemen, Cluj IT Cluster’s CEO, has been invited to join the jury panel of this prestigious award that reflects upon the most innovative and impactful digital skills initiatives. Besides Andrei, the jury panel brought together experts from across Europe: Aiga Irmeja (Executive Director of the Latvian IT Cluster), Anu Passi-Rauste (Partner/ CBO at Headai Finland), Esther Murphy (DigiAcademy Founder) and Mads Ronald Dahl (Special Consultant at CED – Centre for Educational Development).
“I was truly amazed by the quality of applications received from all over Europe. This shows, once again, that improving existing or acquiring new digital skills is at the forefront of many organizations’ strategies. I have seen initiatives with huge impact in various communities, from very young to elders, but also specialized projects addressing certain sectors and abilities. They all contribute to a better, more competitive European economy and society.
My heartfelt congratulations to everybody, winners or not, and keep doing the good work!”
The 2024 competition, at its 2nd edition, received 267 applications, out of which 25 have been selected on the short list for the final winners. The awards ceremony is run by the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform, in collaboration with the European Commission and the National Coalitions for Skills and Jobs all around Europe.
EDSA has been divided into 5 categories entitled: Cybersecurity skills, Inclusion in the digital world, Digital skills for education, Women in ICT careers and Digital Upskilling @ Work. According to the organizers, the competition “celebrates the outstanding contributions of projects and organizations dedicated to empowering individuals with essential digital competencies.”
As a journey through the digital landscape of Europe, EDSA’s highlighted projects promote 5 initiatives from Romania that have been selected among the lucky finalists, including: Bit Sentinel (UNbreakable Romania), Women Go Tech, Ride Erasmus+ Project, SkillsUpload Jr (Vodafone Foundation) and the Erasmus+ Project Sparks.
The evaluation criteria revolved around 5 main indicators (impact, sustainability/ scalability, innovation and originality, communication and dissemination, clarity of presentation), plus 3 extra: accessibility, environmental sustainability, inclusion and diversity. The competition was addressed to public entities, private enterprises, academic institutions, grassroots initiatives and EU-funded consortiums, interested in advancing digital skills.
The winners of each category will benefit from the following recognition steps: mention and presence in the online event to announce the winners, publication of their initiative/project on the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform and promotion on the @DigitalSkillsEU Social Media accounts, a trophy and certificate and an invitation to participate in the awards ceremony in Brussels, with travel and accommodation offered by the organizers.
Congratulations to all winners on this outstanding achievement!
