Documents

The European Commission adopted on 7 September 2007 a Communication on "e-Skills for the 21st Century: Fostering Competitiveness, Growth and Jobs pdf - 161 KB [161 KB] ", presenting a long term e-skills agenda including five major action lines at EU level for the years 2008-2010.The Competitiveness Council of Ministers subsequently adopted Conclusions on a long term e-skills strategy on 22-23 November 2007.

The success of the Lisbon strategy, the competitiveness of European industry and social cohesion are dependent on the availability and the effective use of information and communication technologies (ICT) and the knowledge, skills, competences and inventiveness of the European workforce and citizens. There is a general recognition since the 1990s that the role of ICT on productivity and living standards is critical.

E-skills shortages, gaps and mismatches as well as a persistent digital divide will affect negatively productivity growth, competitiveness, employment and social cohesion in Europe. As ICT is developing rapidly, e-skills are increasingly becoming important and need to be constantly updated. In addition, the development of e-business is increasing the demand for individuals with creativity and higher-level conceptual skills.

Improving the availability of e-skills involves actions both at European and national level, in several areas, primarily education, training, industrial and labour policies but also in other domains such as immigration, taxation and research.

The five major action lines of the long-term e-skills agenda:

1. Promoting long-term cooperation and monitoring progress

promoting a regular dialogue with Member States and stakeholders and maintaining an online virtual community;
monitoring annually the supply and demand of e-Skills;
assessing the impact of global sourcing on ICT jobs

2. Developing supporting actions and tools

supporting the development of a European e-competence framework;
producing and promoting a European handbook on e-Skills multi-stakeholder partnerships;
promoting the Europass initiative and the development of an online e-Skills self-assessment tool;
promoting the development of a European e-Skills and career portal;
encouraging the development of European quality criteria for existing e-Skills industry-based certifications;
supporting the development of e-competence curriculum guidelines;
investigating appropriate financial and fiscal incentives

3. Raising awareness

exchanging information and good practice for the promotion of science, maths, ICT and e-Skills;
encouraging awareness campaigns at EU and national levels;
promoting e-Skills to young people, especially girls

4. Fostering employability and social inclusion

launching an initiative on e-inclusion in 2008;
encouraging corporate social responsibility and partnerships between providers of e-Skills, business skills training and job placement support services;
investigating how public and private funding can support stakeholders initiatives

5. Promoting better and greater use of e-learning

releasing a report in 2008 with recommendations for targeted e-learning initiatives and the promotion of successful strategies;
promoting the development of e-learning courses and exchange mechanisms of e-Skills training resources;
supporting the networking of training centres and research