2016 strategic thematic priorities
2016 organisational development priorities
TELECENTRE EUROPE | ANNUAL REPORT 2016
Strategic overview
In 2016 Telecentre Europe ’ s work was guided by priorities set in the Strategic roadmap of 2015-2017 . These priorities were decided by the Telecentre-Europe Board and Management to better respond to contemporary challenges .
Our work in 2016 was guided by priorities set in the Strategic Roadmap 2015-2017 , following a review of the Strategic plan 2013-2017 carried out by the Telecentre Europe Board together with the Managing Director . The changes at the management level generated the need to revise the priorities in order to better respond to current challenges and opportunities . In this sense , 2016 has been a transitional year , where the Telecentre Europe Board together with the new CEO developed a proposal to renew the vision and mission of the organisation , that would also lead to a new identity .
The graphic below shows how the strategic focus evolved from the start of the Telecentre Europe network . It also provides an indication of what comes next for the organisation that regroups to tackle the digital transformation implications for all ( focusing on the 45 % Europeans with insufficient digital skills ). Therefore , in 2017 Telecentre Europe will move on to a renewed vision and mission , and a new identity to reflect these changes .
When the telecentre movement emerged in the 90s their focus was on providing access for everyone to the then limited Internet connection . As Internet access became increasingly widespread , telecentre users started seeking advice on how best to use it . They needed skills . So telecentres started offering trainings . Today , Internet is ubiquitous and the digital penetrates every area of our lives . People need skills to find a job , grow in their career , or simply book a doctor ’ s appointment and stay in touch with family . Telecentres ’ training offers adapt to demand and grow to include more advanced digital skills , coding , system administration , robotics , etc .
2016 strategic thematic priorities
• Digital skills for young people – organising Get Online Week , joining Cisco NetAcad , self-assessments of digital skills through Skillage , developing the I-LINC platform , coding activities .
• Reskilling / upskilling unemployed – participation in the Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition , eSkills for Jobs , adoption of DigComp .
• Integration of migrants – identification of best practices , searching for opportunities to engage member organisations , scaling-up of existing initiatives .
2016 organisational development priorities
• Staff capacity development – core team relocated to Brussels
• New office – moving office to a central location , to accommodate the growing staff
• Engagement of members – through campaigns , events , EU funded projects , grants from private supporters , strategic development of Telecentre Europe
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TELECENTRE EUROPE | ANNUAL REPORT 2016
ANNUAL REPORT 2016 | TELECENTRE EUROPE
Communications
and Events
Membership
In 2016 our network continued to grow – we worked
to attract new relevant organisations, but at the same
time stay as close as possible to all our members and
their individual needs and interests. 8 organisations
joined the network during this year and with the
DAISSY research group of the computer technology
institute “Diophantus” we reached 59 members. “The
best part is that our members are our ambassadors –
seeing the benefits that membership brings to them,
they advise their partner organisations with similar
activities to join us!” Says Gabriela Ruseva, Telecentre
Europe’s Policy Officer.
Services for members
Our members are our biggest
asset and in 2016, we continued
to improve our services for them.
Financial support
We have continued to provide
or facilitate financial support to
our members to increase their
impact and diversify or improve
services they provide. Initiatives
such as Get Online Week, Cisco
NetAcad, eSkills for Jobs, TEAC16,
TEGA16 included grants for members.
Members administration and communication
The dedicated members’ area was further developed,
so that everyone can find the contact details of
another. Also, our social community platform UniteIT
continued to provide space for interaction, as well as
the internal communication tool – Basecamp.
Funding alert
In late 2016 Telecentre Europe renewed its monthly
funding alert tailored to members with two new issues
in November and December. We not only screen and
list open calls, but make sure to read the guidelines
of each call thoroughly pointing out all necessary
information for members to quickly evaluate if a given
opportunity is for them or not, without having to go
through many pages of guidelines to find the specific
requirements. Ad hoc information and reminders
about deadlines were also sent, thanks to our new
10
Fundraising Officer, who was engaged to coordinate
this service to the members and to provide assistance
to members with their applications. In all European
Projects that we lead, we engage our member
organisations, because at the end of the day it is for
them that we are doing it.
EU Policy updates
We regularly inform members about important EU
initiatives, mostly through our dedicated Members
area on Basecamp. A constant stream of information
is given enhancing interaction
between members. MAKS was
among the 10 semi-finalists
(out of more than 1 000
organisations) of the European
Social Innovation Competition
in 2016. MAKS vzw Director
Veronique de Leener: “I learned
about the Competition from
you – Telecentre Europe.
Please, keep forwarding such
useful information because it
is difficult to follow everything
that is going on.”
Annual survey
For the third year, Telecentre Europe carried out an
annual membership survey with updated questions
in order to get better and relevant information
about our members. The aim is to use the survey
results to compose a collective picture of Telecentre
Europe network, to hear members’ feedback on
certain matters and to draw conclusions for advocacy
purposes. 2016 survey results will be presented at
the General Assembly in Brussels on 9th March 2017.
#TEAC16 in Ghent
In 2016 Telecentre Europe held its 9th Annual
Conference in Ghent on 6-8th October, co-organised
with our Belgian member Digipolis Gent and the
I-LINC Platform. The 3-day event was attended by
over 100 invited participants and we were honoured
to have such high-profile speakers as the Belgian
Minister for Development Cooperation and Digital
Agenda Mr. Alexander De Croo who confirmed his
government’s commitment to develop digital skills
for all as one of the main pillars of Digital Belgium.
Two days of inspiring keynote speeches on the future
of the workplace and the digital skills we will all
need, mixed with hands on experiences. Participants
had the chance to visit local telecentres guided by
enthusiastic staff of the Digipolis team and experience
cutting-edge technologies at the Ghent Interactive
Digital Fair on the 3rd and final day of the event.
them were from telecentre networks and NGOs
working in the digital inclusion field. However, we
also welcomed policy makers from Belgium and the
EU, companies, libraries, youth centers and public
authorities. Furthermore, I-LINC stakeholders and
young ambassadors added to the lively mix.
From the private sector, we had Saskia Van Uffelen
from Ericsson BeLux and Karsten Simons from
CISCO. He and Martine Tempels from the Belgian
telecom Telenet both agreed that soft skills such as
communication, media literacy and critical thinking
are equally important in today’s workplace.
The conference closed with six project lightning
talks about coding, teachers’ online collaboration
skills, organising a hackathon, enabling parents to
understand their kids’ digital life better, and more,
and more.
We are already looking forward to our #TEAC17 in
Barcelona!
General Assembly in Amsterdam
In 2016 Telecentre Europe held its General Assembly
on 3rd-4th March in Amsterdam in the picturesque
Grand Café Restaurant of the city’s central station. It
gathered 39 member representatives. The new Board
elected the previous year presented an updated
Strategic Roadmap on which it was working in 2015.
During the formal part of the Assembly member
approved the report and financial accounts for 2015
and Action and Budget plans for 2016. Then the
meeting took a more informal note with discussions
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