Digital upskilling of the existing ageing workforce

It was on Sep 13th of 2016 when the EU Parliament voted in Strasbourg the Resolution 2016/2017 on creating labour market conditions favourable for work-life balance, fostering quality employment a...

The project was aimed at giving people opportunities to learn at any stage in life and targeted both skilled professionals as well as less-experienced workers, including those looking for a professional change and novel job opportunities. Furthermore, the project aimed to enhance: - digital skills by developing a flexible ICT-based learning environment and by providing specific training on digital skills necessary to improve professional performance as dealt with by the EU DigComp Framework, such as communication and collaboration, safety, and problem-solving skills; - entrepreneurial skills, including creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving, by taking advantage of the EU EntreComp Framework and providing specific training contents and resources; - skills and competences needed to promote sustainable development and sustainable, inclusive, and equal working approaches, so as to meet UN SDGS 4, 5, and 8 (Agenda 2030, 2015), and personal, social, and learning-to-learn competence (EU Council, 2018).

RAISING AWARENESS OF COMPANIES – Made companies aware of the challenge faced by their aged workforce and encouraged them to define potential employees that may be in this situation (using analytics to detect employees’ discrepancies and define or categorize specific digital skills gap). Prepared companies to accompany senior employees to upskill their digital competencies. MINDSET CHANGE – Encouraged an open attitude of senior employees and their employers who both benefited from the digital training. MAINTAINING THE SENIOR FRIENDLY WORKING ENVIRONMENT - Assured a friendly environment allowing senior employees to feel comfortable and avoid unnecessary stress related to the need for upskilling. DEVELOPMENT OF THE DIGITAL TRAINING AND ITS PROMOTION - Including consultations with business sectors and intergenerational exchanges. - To address the digital training needs of senior employees including a disadvantages group of senior employees. - To foster seniors' professional development and inclusion securing their employability. - To boost independent distance working and to maintain the physical and mental health of senior employees. - To raise the effectiveness of senior employees, companies' performance and therefore the positively impact the local, national, and European economies. - To promote innovation as an indispensable part of the professional development of the senior workforce. - To raise awareness of the professional integration and development of the ageing workforce in the post-pandemic labour market and in the society itself, as acquiring new skills reduces the risk of professional exclusion and promotes intergenerational communication (bridging the digital gap between generations).

A virtual platform was developed as a comprehensive model dedicated to both the aging workforce and their employers. It came out with an assessment tool useful for monitoring results and impacts of the proposed training on both direct target groups and indirect target groups (employers, managers, other workers, and staff members), including impacts produced on MSMEs, with recorded encouraging effects on their digital transition. We did extra efforts in making the platform as user friendly as possible by adding 'How to use' guidelines, using readable fonts and implementing feedback from testers such as some gramatical choises and harmonising of the platform.