Digital Literacy and the ‘Last Miles’ The variety of last miles Education Fast Forward November 1st, Bálint MAGYAR, Hungary

Enabling/empowering citizens for social interaction in an open society Digital Literacy Public education Provides up-to-date life skills, e. g. digital literacy. Rights are granted. Older generations The generation shift is slower than technology shift – schooling is not enough without adult education. Rights are not granted. vs.

Some sociology The Glass Ceiling Phenomena: A barrier of upward mobility (e. g. gender or race based discrimination) when certain levels of hierarchy, status and promotion are unavailable, without transparency. The Glass Fence Phenomena: A barrier of full saturation, when knowledge, cultural and technology paragons are blocked from spreading into a certain part of population.

Last miles Last mile in ICT: The technical means to reach the final user/consumer. The (relatively) most expensive part of info- communication chain. Last mile in ICS: In the Info- Communication Society the last mile is the under- motivated, under- educated, mostly deprived, technologically disengaged mass of people.

How can we break through? How can we break through the glass fence? Basic condition: connect everybody But: reaching everyone requires more than market driven means alone can ensure

EU strategy The European Commission published the EU strategy for the next decade (in March, 2010). This strategy is built on 3 pillars: 1.) Smart growth 2.) Sustainable growth 3.) Inclusive growth

Smart growth Key issues: -R&D spending much less than US and Japan -Education, training & Life-long learning -Digital Society EU-2020 answers: - EU level: promote internet access - Member level: draw operational high-speed internet strategy To be more effective: further compelling actions are needed

Inclusive growth Key issues: -Employment, Skills, Poverty EU-2020 answers: - EU level: European Skills, Competences and Occupations framework (ESCO) - Member level: „ensure competences required to engage in further learning and labour market are acquired and recognised throughout general, vocational, higher and adult education, including non formal and informal learning” To be more effective: further compelling actions are needed

We need to define Digital Literacy as a Basic Human Right To reach the „last human right mile” W ithout digital literacy people are prevented from fully practicing their rights The state should have a legal obligation to ensure Digital Literacy for everyone

Equal chances should be given to all To reach the „last social mile” Without equal chances people from the last social mile are deprived from the society It is a moral obligation of the society to provide equal chances to all

Digital Literacy: a precondition for an adaptive labour force To reach the „last learners’ mile” – those who have dropped out of the school system and/or are unable to get further educated Without reaching the last learner mile there can be no flexible adaptation to fast changing labour market needs Life-Long Learning & Adult training is a wide societal interest

New technologies become obsolete before full market saturation To reach the „last market mile” Without this, technologies will not be available to the whole community and providing same generation of technology for everyone Wide economic interest

EU and governmental obligations needed Legal measures: Declaring digital literacy as a basic human right Economic measures: Ensuring sufficient capacities and funding (mainly via PPP) Educational measures: Providing digital literacy training for everyone (throughout LLL)

Thank You for Your attention Bálint MAGYAR Governing Board Member of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Former Minister of Education ( , )