#Digital Skills #Brussels #Belgium #EIT Digital #(d)Academy

Welcome to the Future: EIT Digital's (d)Academy

In a world where digital skills are the cornerstone of competitiveness, EIT Digital has made a significant stride by launching the (d)Academy. This innovative platform, designed to address the urgent shortage of digital talent across Europe, promises to redefine how individuals and businesses engage with skill development and workforce readiness.

The Need for Change

The digital landscape is evolving rapidly, yet a staggering 75% of EU companies report difficulties in finding qualified digital professionals. Alarmingly, only 56% of Europeans aged 16 to 74 possess basic digital skills. This knowledge gap translates into vast potential economic losses for the European economy, estimated at around €11.2 trillion across 14 G20 nations by 2030 if left unaddressed. EIT Digital's (d)Academy emerges as a beacon of hope in this challenging environment.

A New Approach to Talent Matching

Traditional recruitment methods often fall short in today's fast-paced workforce. The (d)Academy introduces a competency-based job matching system that prioritizes skills over mere credentials resume reviews. This paradigm shift not only increases the talent pool but also streamlines the hiring process for companies seeking qualified candidates. Through partnerships with over 300 industry leaders, (d)Academy has curated a curriculum tailored to meet contemporary and future job demands.

Lifelong Learning Culture

At the heart of (d)Academy lies the promotion of a lifelong learning ethos. The platform offers modular courses in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, data analytics, and machine learning. By enabling continuous education and reskilling, individuals can adapt to the fluctuating needs of the digital marketplace.

AI-Powered Personalization

A key feature of the (d)Academy is its proprietary AI algorithm, which meticulously evaluates resumes and course offerings to identify the hard and soft skills essential to seamlessly match candidate profiles with industry requirements. Learners are empowered to choose career trajectories and specialization areas, allowing them to engage with personalized educational content based on their career goals.

Additionally, employers can utilize the platform to pinpoint skill gaps within their workforce and align training outcomes with hiring needs, creating a more synergized approach to workforce development.

Digital Skills Passport

To enhance engagement, the (d)Academy includes the Digital Skills Passport, a mobile application that allows users to showcase their skills and connect with potential employers. Users can upload their resumes or input their skills, experience, and education manually. The platform’s AI analyzes this data, delivering course recommendations aimed at filling identified skill gaps.

Strategic Vision

As Federico Menna, CEO of EIT Digital, emphasizes, “Addressing the digital skills gap is not only about filling vacancies but securing Europe’s future in a tech-driven world. Failure to tackle this issue risks falling behind in global competitiveness, innovation, and economic growth.” With the ambitious target of activating nearly 100 million skills passports by 2030, the (d)Academy is poised to make a profound impact.

Conclusion

With the (d)Academy, EIT Digital aims not just to bridge the current skills gap but to instill a culture of ongoing learning across Europe. As Diva Tommei, Chief Innovation and Education Officer, states, “Learning must be accessible, adaptable, and continuous.” The (d)Academy equips individuals with the necessary tools to thrive in a perpetually evolving technological landscape, ensuring that Europe remains at the forefront of digital innovation.

For more information on EIT Digital and the (d)Academy, visit www.eitdigital.eu and www.dacademy.io.