e-Skills in Cyprus

e-Skills: Status and Prospects in Cyprus

Prepared by: Panicos Masouras, CCS SecretaryPresented by: Dinos Konis, CCS Board Member

Agenda

The Cyprus Digital DivideCyprus Digital Literacy Initiatives Cyprus Digital Competences InitiativesFrom Digital Literacy to CertificationProblems FacedSuggestions for the future

The Cyprus Digital DivideThe Cyprus Digital Divide

Landscape is improving

Source:Statistical Service of

Cyprus, 2011, ICT Usage

Survey in Households and by Individuals

Internet Usage

The Cyprus Digital Divide

A Cyprus University of Technology Survey* documents the Cyprus Digital Divide at three levels:

Age

Financial status

Educational status

(2010, The Internet in Cyprus, Final Report, World Internet Project)*

The Cyprus Digital Divide

The survey identified as the four major reasons for not using the internet:

Its «not usefulness»

Lack of skills

Lack of time

No PC ownership

Dimensions of Digital Divide

Digital Divide – Financial StatusDigital Divide – Age

Digital Divide – Education Category

Dimensions of Digital Divide

Digital Divide –

Reasons for not Using the Internet (Converging findings)

Sources:Statistical Service of Cyprus, 2011, ICT Usage Survey in Households and by

Individuals & CUT, 2010, The Internet in Cyprus, Final Report, World Internet Project

Cyprus Digital Literacy InitiativesCyprus Digital Literacy Initiatives

Cyprus Initiatives – Digital Literacy

HRDA Initiatives Improvement of the Employability of the Unemployed

Improvement of the Employability of the Financially Inactive Female Personnel

Source: Human Resources Development Authority Website.

No statistics available


Cyprus Productivity Centre Initiativese-Gnosis Web-based Platform• Free and open access• Has 4525 registered users• 1800 users accessed during the last three months• Provides for the self-learning on various topics• e-Skills training based on the 7 Core Modules of

the ECDL – European Computer Driving Licence

Source: Cyprus Productivity Center


Cyprus Productivity Centre InitiativesPlans for population-wide training on e-Skills

For company personnel • The programme Network & Evolve/Develop

(Δικτυωθείτε & Εξελιχθείτε)• Available since October 2009• Participation of more than 1000 persons

Source: Cyprus Productivity Center


e-Skills Week (2009 & 2011)European Stakeholders: Digital Europe, European Schoolnet

Cyprus Stakeholders: CITEA, CCS, Microsoft

Virtual BusRaising awareness among selected target groups• Elderly in various communities • Scouts• Students in public and private schools• Disabled and children with speed needs (Radiomarathon)


International Educational Fair (Annual Event)Competition at an Internet CaféCrossword fun game

IT Treasure Hunt (2009)Part of the Radiomarathon for People with Special Needs

Special Schools School for the Deaf (2005-2011)• Supporting students during certification tests with teachers of

special education who “speak” the sign languageSchool for the Blind (2005-2011)• Converting training and test materials into Braille Language• Celebrated the completion of ECDL Certification by 4 blind students

(2010-2011)

Cyprus Initiatives -Digital Literacy

University of Cyprus “Logipaignion” competition for high school students organized by the Computer Science Department“Technoplefsi” competition organized by the Department of Electrical and Computer EngineeringBoth events supported by private organizations – Successful PPP Multi-stakeholder Initiative

Cyprus Initiatives -Digital Literacy

CCS & Cyprus ICT Teachers Association Competitions

For Gymnasium students

For Lyceum students

Balkan & International Olympiad in Informatics

All supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture

Microsoft’s Initiatives Innovative Teacher Competition

Imagine Cup Competition for University Students

Both supported by other stakeholders

Cyprus Digital Competences InitiativesCyprus Digital Competences Initiatives

Cyprus Initiatives – Digital Competences

HRDA Initiatives Establishment and Operation of Professional Qualifications Scheme in Cyprus (2010 ongoing)

• IT Support• Network Technician• Digital Skills for End Users

Delayed/Low priority implementation

Source: Human Resources Development Authority

Cyprus Initiatives -Digital Competences

ICT Professional Certifications in the Industry:CISCO (IT Essential, Discovery, CCNA, CCNP)

EUCIP (European Certification of Informatics Professionals) promoted by CEPIS

Other ICT Companies Certifications (Microsoft, Oracle, HP, etc.)

No statistics available• Need for a survey among ICT Professionals

Serious problem: NOT Subsidized by the HRDA locally

From Digital Literacy to CertificationFrom Digital Literacy to Certification

CertificationTraining

52 areas

40000+ candidates

3 Languages

200+ Test Centres

5 cities

From Training to Certification of Digital Literacy

From Training to Certification of Digital Literacy

Rank CountryNumber of Candidates

% of Total Population

1 Malta 51,669 12,75

2 Ireland 494,459 11,76

3 Austria 460,132 5,60

4 Sweden 441,426 4,87

5 Denmark 254,365 4,62

6 Hungary 393,337 3,97

7 Cyprus 35,325 3,26

8 UK 1,987,301 3,25

Average N/A 514752 6,26

Source: ECDL Foundation, September 2011

Problems FacedProblems Faced

Problems Faced in Digital Literacy Training Initiatives

Lack of Private Public Partnership Spirit and CultureInitiatives undertaken by Private Organizations & NGOs are seen as something which has profit in mind!Government stakeholders not keen to participate Problems of bureaucracy and lack of undertaking responsibility without “higher level” approval!

Campaigns for raising awarenessLeft to each training delivery organizationNo clear messages of these campaigns, just a “call of participation”Life Long Learning does not seem to be a clear objective

Standards on which digital literacy training is based Although training is based on the ECDL – European Computer Driving Licence standard syllabus, no such reference is made for HRDA sponsored training, whereas this was for the case of Ministry of Education which also included certification

Problems Faced

Motivation for participationBased on financial rewards only!

Learning objectives not measured

Rewards are solely based on presence in the class• Not even participation is measured• Who cares if participants learned, how much and at what

level

Wondering how many people would participate if reward was not given!

Problems Faced

Organizational issues Accessibility only in the cities

Exclusion of population in rural areas and another “digital divide”?

No exploitation of e-learning and web technologies

Suggestions for the FutureSuggestions for the Future

Suggestions for the Future

Future Subsidized ICT Professional Training Programmes should:

Be based on clearly defined, universally acceptable and current syllabus Make training programmes based on e-Learning Technologies and the Web eligible for subsidy Subsidize with even higher rates training programmes based on e-Learning and the Web Consider the introduction of policy for training programmes based on blended learningEnsure that learning objectives are actually measured effectivelyEmbed assessment of learning within the training programmeInclude the cost of certification test as part of the subsidy


Surveys and Statistics for the ICT Skills Levels of:

Public Employees at various levels

Teachers of Primary and Secondary Education

Students in Primary and Secondary Education

Employees in the SMEs

The General Population


Prepare a digital literacy framework programme to aim for the:

e-Inclusion

e-Citizen

e-SME

e-Society


New and Future Digital Literacy Programmes:

Consider the “social media” revolution Serve the e-Inclusion aim and target the:• Underprivileged groups• Rural areas • Elderly • Disabled• Imprisoned• Immigrants and asylum seekers


Future digital literacy programmes should:Be part of a country wide digital literacy programme with short-term, mid-term and long-term objectivesAddress the problems identifiedConsider seriously the “lessons learnt”Take into consideration the “social media” and “collaboration” revolution

• Its ignorance will effectively create another “level of digital divide”


Future digital literacy programmes should:Enhance the delivery mode of the programmes with educational technology

• In class technology• Exploit online tutoring, QA sessions, participant-

tutor collaboration• Provide continuous learning support through e-

Learning


Future digital literacy programmes should:Enable the participants’ mobility and employabilityDefine clear and measurable learning objectivesEstablish a motivation scheme which is based on the accomplishment of the learning objectivesBe based on clearly defined, universally acceptable and current syllabusEnsure that learning objectives are actually measured effectivelyEmbed assessment of learning within the training programmeExploit trustworthy and internationally recognized assessment of learning mechanisms

Panicos Masouras, p [email protected] Konis, [email protected]

www.ccs.org.cy

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e-Skills in Cyprus