eskills: Making the Information Society a Reality CEDEFOP, e-skills workshop Thessalonika, June 2005

Transcription

1 eskills: Making the Information Society a Reality CEDEFOP, e-skills workshop Thessalonika, June 2005 Hugo Lueders CompTIA Director Public Policy EMEA

2 Overview Introduction: e-skills on the global agenda escc general information + initiatives e-skills: status and outreach Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships escc priorities - ICT CareerPortal - WSIS 2005, Tunis escc new developments Conclusion: Tunis Declaration

3 Introduction: eskills on the global agenda With the new i2010 Communication, the UNESCO event on ICT Capacity building, and the WSIS 2005 event in Tunis e-skills are again on the global agenda e-skills raise awareness about the economic importance of ICT training and skilled workforce development in the ICT-embedded economy ICT training and certification increases GNP per capita and thus real wages, making the entire workforce more globally competitive: they are in the 21st century what literacy was in the 19th: without it, you fall behind

4 escc Members European Executive Committee

5 Composition: A Multi-Stakeholder Partnership ( ) representatives of commercial, informal and formal ICT training sectors = industries, governments, training institutions Objectives: secure endorsement for and use of commercial, informal (open, distance or adult learning) and formal (state-recognised) ICT training certifications within government endorsed education and training frameworks across Europe

6 eskills initiatives - ITALY - "Vola con Internet" (Fly with the Internet) UK Project carried on in 2004 in the framework of a programme aimed at increasing computer literacy among teenagers Offered Italy's half-a-million 16-year-olds the opportunity to buy an ECDL Skills Card at a reduced price, and giving them free access to an online programme compliant with the ECDL Syllabus. Teenagers could also take the ECDL examinations free of charge. The UK National Health Service (NHS) (publicly funded organisation providing free health care to all UK citizens) adopted ECDL as the reference standard for basic IT skills in It is planned that 450,000 of the 1.3 million employees will be trained for ECDL certification over the next five years BELGIUM Belgium has launched an initiative aimed at bringing ECDL certification to the unemployed. Both the Flemish and Walloon governments operate a scheme whereby job-seekers can participate in ECDL programmes and work towards certification free of charge

7 eskills initiatives - Exin: a Dutch-based worldwide IT examination provider Establishes educational requirements and develops examinations in Information Technology. Has developed ITIL certificates in IT Service Management (ITIL). EXIN has already certified more than IT-professionals world-wide. Partnerships with international agents and authorized examination centers enhance the accessibility of EXIN s examinations. EXIN's services Certification schemes for international standards like ITIL, CMM, MOF, ASL and DSDM Examination programs: exams and exam requirements Registration: as an individual or as a group A full range of IT books in the e-bookshop

8 eskills initiatives Cisco The Cisco Networking Academy program : e-learning program, providing students with the Internet technology skills essential in a global economy The Cisco Networking Academy program provides the opportunity for students to obtain two levels of certification: Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) and Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP). Both certifications are designed to meet employment standards for the networking industry Since its inception, over 1.6 Million students have enrolled at more than 10,000 Academies located in high schools, technical schools, colleges, universities, and community-based organizations. Academy Curriculum and Cisco certifications are publicly recognized Embedded in vocational framework in UK Officially approved by Belgian educational authority Hungarian vocational training certification mapped to Academy curriculum Integrated in official public education by 13 Bundeslander (Federal States) in Germany

9 eskills initiatives -

10 eskills: status and outreach In the ICT-embedded economy growth depends on the existence of human capacity with necessary basic and professional e-skills Awareness of e-skills needs a priority: Re-launched Lisbon Strategy: Working together for growth and jobs Need for improve[d] skills of the labour force coupled with use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to boost productivity i2010 : «European Information Society 2010» Commission commits to promoting education and training policies so that Europe has the skills it needs to ( ) use ICT. Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) April Commission s proposal recognizes that «An inclusive Information Society ( ) calls for widening ICT accessibility and digital literacy

11 eskills: the global reach Global Vendors Microsoft, Intel, Cisco, Motorola, Siemens, Nokia, Vodafone, IBM, HP, Oracle, SAP, Dell Global Solutions PC, Printers, Networks, Wireless, Mobile, Convergence, PDA, Web Solutions Global ICT Skills Standards Certifications Microsoft, Cisco, HP, CompTIA etc. Skills Models and Skills Passports Microsoft, Cisco, HP, CompTIA etc. Local ICT Skills Models SFIA (UK) Advanced IT Training System (Germany) CareerSpace (Europe) NITAS and TCC (USA) Many others Local ICT Skills Initiatives Skills Hub (Australia) eskills UK ICT Education Initiative (Jordan) e-skills Forum Europe Many others Mix of Education MSPs Community/Vocational Colleges Universities Commercial IT Training New Learning Systems and Methods

12 eskills: a global approach ICT fundamental to all ICT-embedded industries It s not just about ICT Professionals and the ICT Industry or sectors Banking, Health, Automotive: a cross-sectorial approach Mobility of labour Within the EU and across the world Off- and In-shore effect not just about cost, it s about where the skills are Cost/Speed of ICT implementation Lack of appropriate skills slows down ICT development Lack of appropriate and reliable skills prevents reliable implementation Position of the EU vs. developing regions Asia moving ahead rapidly Middle East making significant investments and changing quickly Demands of Industry don t wait Government and academic systems generally slow to change Industry-based e-skills certifications to fill the gap

13 e-skills development: MSPs Coordination of national and international policies not sufficient to ensure workforce is adapted to new environment (adequately ICT skilled) Only active partnerships between public institutions, business, academic, and other social partners can facilitate adaptation to industrial change MSPs vital to ensure greater demand-supply alignment between curriculum and real-value needs The deployment of new training clusters

14 Benefits of eskills MSPs For the public - future proof training and match of demand - closer alignment of supply and demand - maximum access for citizens to training For the employee - current, real-valued e-skills - public funding for recognised e-skills - greater employment chances For the industry - workplace-ready employees - match of supply and demand - reduction of costly re-training

15 escc - Current Priorities The EU ICT CareerPortal Informational website based around recognised ICT skills standards Aim to provide employers and employees with visibility of required e- skills certifications for a range of IT job profiles, across EU borders Outline proposal submitted by escc to the EU Commission Feasibility study? The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Second phase, Tunis, November 2005 Action Plan calls to ensure that young people are equipped with knowledge and skills to use ICTs, including the capacity to analyse and treat information in creative and innovative ways, share their expertise and participate fully in the Information Society. escc has applied to hold a parallel Thematic Workshop on e-skills: Making the Information Society a reality (in cooperation with the European Commission - DG InfoSoc/DG Enterprise)

16 Why an EU ICT CareerPortal? Lack of standards/definitions for ICT job roles ICT present in all industries and constantly changing Dynamic nature of ICT industry requires constant updating of ICT skills required to perform the work Technology is changing the learning model

17 EU ICT CareerPortal - Initiatives & Challenges Several developments of e-skills standards Use of ICT certifications within formal & informal learning Several initiatives to create e-skills passports Challenge: to establish a process for e-skills standards to be adopted by industry, academia and government across Europe Customizable portal allowing country specific data and information on jobs, career advice, and learning providers

18 Current eskills initiatives Several developments of e-skills standards USA NSSB, CompTIA Tech Career Compass UK SFIA Europe CareerSpace Several others e.g. KIBNET, GRIP etc. Use of ICT certifications within formal & informal learning De-facto global standards for ICT Encourage mobility or labour Some organizations recognizing as credit towards formal learning Several initiatives to create Skills Passports e-skills UK European Skills Passport / Credit Transfer CompTIA Career ID

19 Existing ICT CareerPortals Global ITPro Australia Australia US Europe

20 Job detail page Certifications are mapped directly to skill categories. Skill Gap Assessment is linked directly to each job

21 Other portal examples eskills UK SFIA CEN/ISSS Career Space Career InfoNet UK jobsite ECDL EUCIP APO/Fraunhofer EUQuaSIT ChooseIT

22 EU ICT Career Portal - Goals Provide information to companies, learning providers and individuals to help meet demand for needed e- skilled worker force worldwide Help the job seeker wherever by mapping e-skills certifications and training to specific jobs Establish and maintain through multi-stakeholder partnership uniform job definitions and e-skill standards to enable lifelong learning for ICT-professionals

23 EU ICT CareerPortal - Benefits Company Assists with developing job descriptions and manage companies ICT career needs New Entrant or Existing ICT Professional Helps explore careers in the ICT industry, plan training and compare jobs Learning Provider Helps develop training schedules, courseware and curriculum based on ICT skill standards Career Advisor Assist individuals with career goals and planning training and certification needs

24 EU ICT CareerPortal Next Steps Feasibility study Commission study into viability and demand for EU Portal, including long-term maintenance and business model Open tender Speedy implementation of solution proposed in feasibility study via open tender Follow-up and uptake Support for publicity / marketing to encourage widespread uptake and use

25 WSIS eskills provision in the Information Society Possibility for a joint escc/european Commission Workshop Theme e-skills: Making the Information Society a Reality. Bridging the Digital Divide through Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships Rationale Need for a renewed focus on e-skills provisions worldwide Objectives - Ensure adequate consideration of e-skills issues by public bodies - Ensure that investments in ICT infrastructure and governance are truly sustainable and deliver on the promises made - Promote Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships (MSPs) to enhance e-skills provisions across the world

26 e-skills : bridging the digital divide What s about CEDEFOP at WSIS? Main issues Current policies and strategies for developing e-skills for the Information Society A view by the business and training sectors on e-skills needs and e-skills provisions The role of MSPs (professional experiences and best practices) The deployment of new roles for key participants (governments, academia, and industry)

27 escc: new developments EU Member States Chapters pan-european Executive Committee, supported by National Chapters at Member State level aim to translate EU-level objectives into new e-skills policies in each country by providing local policymakers with industry expertise and guidance Existing national initiatives Challenge: link up these various Member State initiatives with EU recommendations on e-skills policy Consultation Group forum for non-member supporters of the e-scc and its principles support the work of the e-scc Executive Committee and its Member State Working Groups Aimed at e-skills users having an interest in helping ensure that EU and Member State policies in the e-skills domain are capable of responding to the needs of industry in ICTembedded society Launch at Cisco premises (Brussels) 15 July 2005

28 Conclusion: Tunis Declaration A multitude of new forms of e-skills MSPs The deployment of new forms of ICT education and e-skills training (the 21st century education paradigm...) implies different functional roles and associative partnerships between the key stakeholders concerned This is the paradigm change in e-skills training compared to the classical top down chain under the traditional education and training scheme The escc Tunis Declaration will try to reach out to build on the escc Multi-stakeholder issue paper for the eskills Forum and will develop needed perspectives for this new paradigm and practice

29 Contact Hugo LUEDERS CompTIA, Director Public Policy EMEA 6, Rond Point Schuman B Brussels Tel / web: