Includ-ed, red europea de educación inclusiva

The European Commission in March is due to launch a so-called Grand Coalition for ICT Jobs and Training at a conference in Brussels on 4-5 March.

The Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs is an EU wide multi-stakeholder partnership helping to address a shortfall in the number of European citizens with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) professional skills and to exploit the employment creation potential of ICT. The European Commission seeks active collaboration in areas like industry-led training, assisting labour mobility, certifying skills, improving school and university curricula, and raising awareness among young people about ICT-related careers.

During the conference, Neelie Kroes, Commission vice president for digital affairs, will seek to confirm partnership ‘pledges’ from the private sector. The Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs recognises that the ICT skills gap cannot be fixed without collective action. Stakeholders will be encouraged to take action if they see that others are too. Stakeholders are invited to pledge what they will do to address the ICT skills gap. They can start new actions, engage in existing schemes or collaborate with other stakeholders by adding new initiatives.

During the launch conference several pledges will be presented by stakeholders and after the conference, pledges can be entered via e-mail, ideally using the pledge form, to . Pledges should concern activities starting before the end of 2013. After the March launch, the next milestone for taking stock is 31 May 2013. The pledges will be presented at the Digital Agenda Assembly in Dublin on 19-20 June 2013.

“The ICT sector is the new backbone of Europe's economy, and together we can prevent a lost generation and an uncompetitive Europe. So I am expecting concrete pledges by companies, everyone I meet will be getting the same request. The Commission will do its bit but we can't do it alone – companies, social partners and education players – including at national and regional level - have to stand with us,” said European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes.

Up to 400 people will attend the conferences in Brussels. Representatives of European Commission services, including four Commissioners, Public Employment Services Network, ICT companies and associations, Industry and CIO associations, SMEs associations, education (school and university) associations, education authorities, e-skills organizations, e-skills councils/alliances, national digital champions, ESF and other public funding instrument representatives, qualification and certification bodies, web entrepreneurs confirmed their participation.

Such Grand Coalition is itself part of the Commission’s Employment Package and is seeking to capitalise and intensify existing policies, such as the Digital Agenda for Europe, the E-skills Strategy, the Opening Up Education initiative, the Rethinking Education Strategy, the Youth Opportunities Initiative, and the EU Skills Panorama.