Annual reports | Page 14

TELECENTRE EUROPE | ANNUAL REPORT 2016

Influencing public policy

Telecentre Europe welcomed the launch of the New Skills Agenda for Europe in June – the most important initiative of the European Commission on education and employment in 2016 . Not without our advocacy efforts , the digital skills are now being recognised by the new policy as basic skills together with numeracy and literacy . Since the launch in June 2016 , Telecentre Europe has proactively contributed to the implementation of the following actions regarding digital skills :
1 . Participation in the Secretariat of the new Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition , where Telecentre Europe is responsible of implementing the Coalition at member state level , by setting up new National Coalitions and supporting the existent ones .
2 . Contribution to the implementation plan and adoption of the DigComp framework .
3 . Contribution and recommendations on how to shape the Upskilling pathways as a Skills guarantee for adults
Our advocacy efforts in 2016 consolidated our position as a major partner in the field of digital skills and inclusion for the European institutions and stakeholders . While our membership continued to grow , we also gained more authority to represent the non-formal education sector and to raise awareness about its potential of enhancing the digital skills of Europe .
The Get Online Week campaign has been endorsed by EC Vice President Ansip , and by Commissioners Oetinger and Navracsics . The cabinet of Commissioner Navracsics has since been closer to our activities . Rodrigo Ballester , member of the cabinet , was one of the keynote speakers at the Telecentre Europe Annual Conference in Ghent . We were invited to propose a member of our network to join a panel discussion hosted by the Commissioner at the launch event of the new Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition .
Moreover , Get Online Week was again one of the major milestones of the eSkills for Jobs campaign of the European Commission . As a pan-European partner of the campaign , Telecentre Europe had the opportunity to meet new partners and to present our position in particular at the closing event in Bratislava , where our Chair and CEO were invited as speakers . The new eSkills Manifesto includes a section devoted to Digital skills and inclusion ( Chapter 9 ) authored by Telecentre Europe .
Besides the Manifesto , we have published or supported four other policy position papers and contributions :• Coding and non-formal education – together with the Public Libraries 2020
• DigComp implementation – together with CEPIS and European eSkills Association
• I-LINC youth on digital skills – together with EUN and the I-LINC young changemakers
• Upskilling pathways – our contribution to the implementation of the initiative
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