EDEN Annual conference 2021: “Lessons from a pandemic for the future of education” https://www.eden-online.org/2021_madrid/

1. Digital Education for EU’s Digital Decade:
The Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027
EDEN Annual conference 2021:
“Lessons from a pandemic for the future of education”
Georgi Dimitrov,
Acting Head of Unit ‘Digital Education’
Directorate-General ‘Education, Youth, Sport and Culture’
European Commission

2. Competences in education
.
Member
States
EU
Education and training is a
full responsibility of Member States
Digital education is however subject of some EU policy initiatives
given the transversal nature of the digital transformation

3. • Large scale shift to distance and online learning during COVID-19
outbreak has been far from simple.
• 1.6 billion learners in more than 190 countries were out of school.
• 100 million learning staff were impacted by the sudden closure of
learning institutions.
• Mass unprecedented use of technology for learning revealed many
opportunities for students and educators.
• Albeit, it also revealed significant challenges in terms of equity and
quality.
COVID-19: real disruption

4. The COVID-19 pandemic
Schools and higher education closure in Europe in April 2020
Still today, more
than 800 million
learners is still
affected by full or
partial school
closures, often
following a hybrid
mode of instruction.

5. Open Public Consultation - Overview
85% 15%
&
60 countries
+ 136 position papers
+ 59 replies to the Roadmap

6. Open Public Consultation - Main findings
• The COVID-19 crisis led to the first experience of distance and online
learning for many educators, education and training staff and learners;
• The COVID-19 crisis as a turning point for the use of technology in
education for 90% of the respondents;
• 5 top challenges:
• socioeconomic inequalities;
• insufficient infrastructure and internet;
• lack of teacher training and guidance;
• lack of plan and vision for integrating digital technologies in education
and training;
• and lack of high-quality online learning content.
• Two most essential elements of digital education: teachers with relevant
digital skills; and vision and strategy for using digital technologies;
• Digital skills and competences are considered crucial for life and work.

7. Long-term digital skills challenges across the
EU remain
Only 56% of the individuals in the EU have basic or above basic digital skills (2019).

8. …and gain even greater importance

9. The EU response
Adopted on 30 September 2020

10. Context
Digital Education
Action Plan
2021-2027

11. • Member states increasingly identifying
digital education as a strategic priority in
their RRF plans.
• Relative share of planned expenditures
in the RRPs allocated to digital education
vary from country to country.
• Member states will need more dedicated
support, guidance and leadership from
the EC to continue investing smartly,
while undertaking the necessary policy
reforms in enabling effective and
inclusive digital education.
Resilience and Recovery Plans and digital
education
Top five investment areas in digital
education
Digital infrastructure;
Equipment;
Digital skills of the adult
population;
Teacher training on digital
education;
Digital education
platforms.

12. Key features of the Action Plan
• Two core priorities:
• fostering the development a high performing digital education
ecosystem;
• and enhancing digital skills and competences for the digital
transformation
• Longer duration 2021-2027, in line with the programming cycle.
• Synergies between funding programs, and the Resilience and Recovery
Plans
• Cross-sectoral, whole-government approach
• Lifelong learning approach covering formal, non-formal and informal education.

13. • 2021 as a key year - work ongoing on almost all the actions
• Particular focus on:
• Council Recommendation on distance and online learning for primary and secondary education
• Strategic Dialogue with Member States on the enabling factors for successful digital education
• Ethical guidelines on artificial intelligence and data usage for educators
• Guidelines to foster digital literacy and tackle disinformation through education and training
• Council Recommendation on improving the provision of digital skills
• Digital Education Hub
Implementation

14. Objective: improve cooperation and exchange on digital
education at the EU level and promote cooperation
Key outputs:
➢ Cross-sectoral community
➢Knowledge-sharing and mapping
➢Accelerating innovation in digital education
Timeline for 2021:
- March: Stakeholder consultations
- June: Open Call for Tender for activities
supporting the Digital Education Hub
- September: National Advisory Services Network
- November: Design thinking workshop

15. ➢Digital education: a strategic goal for addressing effectively the digital transformation of
the society;
➢Universal digital education that is inclusive and accessible for all;
➢All teachers and trainers are competent and confident users of technology;
➢A deeper understanding of the digital world is essential. Digital skills and
competences (basic, advanced, specialized) are key part of education and training in
formal, non-formal and informal setting, including in a lifelong learning perspective;
➢Digital education content is of high-quality and accessible for all. It is provided on
platforms that are secure, fostering privacy and interoperability.
➢Shared accountability: transforming education for the digital age is a societal challenge.
Closing

16. Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027)
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