Skills to Connect
▶Summary
The Skills to Connect project equipped future professionals (students) or professionals working with the elderly with the digital skills they need to do their jobs and support seniors in certain a...
▶Objectives
The Skills to Connect project equipped future professionals (students) or professionals working with the elderly with the digital skills they need to do their jobs and support seniors in certain areas. The objective was double : to increase seniors' independence and improve the quality of services offered to them, while promoting their social and civic inclusion. To achieve this, we relied on the European DigComp 2.2 framework, which defines the essential digital skills for citizens. Our ambition was to contextualise these skills to the realities of professions working with the elderly by creating appropriate, accessible and sustainable educational tools. The project produced three deliverables: An online course for (future) professionals to acquire and pass on digital skills. A toolkit to support seniors in their digital learning, responding to their specific needs. A white paper offering recommendations to decision-makers, professionals and citizens for a more inclusive and digitally sustainable society. These deliverables were co-developed with the target audiences, thus ensuring their relevance and usefulness.
▶Activities
The project was structured around four Work Packages (WP) to address digital inclusion issues. WP1 ensured rigorous management with three transnational meetings (Limoges, Porto, Brussels), video meetings to monitor progress and adjust deadlines if necessary, and collaborative tools such as a multilingual website and a shared drive. WP2 produced 16 online training modules, designed from a survey of 121 professionals and tested by 173 people (135 online and 38 via focus groups), before being presented at a conference. WP3 resulted in a toolkit consisting of 14 fact sheets and two glossaries, co-developed with senior citizens during a week-long training course in Paris and after analysing questionnaires designed to identify the needs of senior citizens. These tools underwent a testing and optimisation phase. Finally, the white paper, written as part of WP4, was based on the two preliminary surveys and interviews with various stakeholders to identify the challenges of digital illiteracy in Europe. This document offers concrete recommendations for sustainable digital inclusion and was presented at the final conference in Brussels. The three deliverables, in French, English and Portuguese, are available on the website.
▶Impact
The project resulted in the creation of three innovative tools, developed in collaboration with (future) professionals and senior citizens: 16 online training modules covering topics such as digital device proficiency, data management, online communication, digital security and digital citizenship. Each module includes practical exercises and self-assessment tests. A learning log, allowing users to track their progress and self-assess their skills. 14 memory sheets and 2 glossaries, providing visual and concise support to help senior citizens learn digital skills. A white paper, offering an analysis of the challenges of digital illiteracy and recommendations for sustainable digital inclusion. Skills to Connect has successfully distributed and tested its tools: 173 users evaluated the training modules (94.8% satisfaction rate), confirming their relevance. Presented at conferences and promoted by partners, these tools have empowered seniors and professionals, proving that tailored support promotes digital inclusion. The project has also strengthened collaboration between partners, creating a sustainable dynamic.