Society

As a society, we encounter the digital transformation in almost all areas of life. The acquisition and development of digital skills as a "basis" for everyday life and work situations is also related to this. Further developments in information and communication technology, in broadband expansion or in the field of artificial intelligence make basic digital skills essential in order to remain adaptable and connected.
 

Achieving digital goals together: The Digital Decade

With the Digital Decade policy program, the European Union aims to advance the digital transformation throughout Europe by 2030. The goals include promoting the skills of the population and, in particular, increasing the digital skills of ICT experts. In addition, the digital transformation in companies is to be supported and promoted, a secure and sustainable digital infrastructure is to be ensured and the digitalization of public services is to simplify administration for citizens. Austria is strategically implementing the goals of the Digital Decade on the basis of the Digital Compass.

Download a summary of "the Austrian path" into the Digital Decade (PDF, german) 

To achieve those goals, the Digital Austria Act (PDF, german) was developed as a national, strategic roadmap with 16 target paths and 66 key measures.

One of the measures relates to the promotion of basic digital skills in society. The aim is for at least 80% of all people between the ages of 16 and 74 to have at least basic digital skills: Being digitally literate means being able to use digital media competently and thoughtfully in addition to technical skills. It is a key qualification for participation in modern society. Being able to handle data consciously and responsibly and critically evaluate sources of information is now as much a cultural skill as reading, writing and arithmetic.

The Digital Skills Initiative for Austria (DKO) was launched in December 2022 to develop and expand these digital (basic) skills.

The Digital Skills Initiative for Austria

The Digital Skills Initiative for Austria (DKO) is a joint initiative of the BMF, BMAW, BMBWF and BMKÖS. The interaction of several ministries provides comprehensive expertise on the one hand and the possibility of a broad range of topics on the other. This way, the demand for digital qualifications in the work and business environment as well as in the education and administration sector can be met in the best possible way.
The initiative ensures quality-assured teaching of basic digital skills among the population in various fields of activity such as education, in the professional and business environment and in public administration.
In addition to the development of basic digital skills, specific objectives include increasing the number of IT specialists, particularly female IT specialists, and promoting digital talent. The introduction of a national reference framework is intended to make digital skills measurable and comparable.

The then Federal Ministry for Digital and Economic Affairs (2018 to mid-2022) has already created a digital skills model "DigComp 2.2 AT" for Austria in order to make digital skills "visible" and classify them according to development levels. The European reference framework DigComp 2.1, which can be used to identify strengths and areas worthy of support, served as the basis. The requirements for digital skills are developing rapidly, as is the digital world. DigComp 2.3 AT was further developed from version 2.2 in order to meet current skills requirements.

A interministerial steering group is making sure to link ongoing initiatives and projects of the ministries, which is an important focus of the DKO.

The office for the implementation and coordination of future initiatives and work in the field of digital skills has been set up at the OeAD (Agency for Education and Internationalization). The office will subsequently draw up its further work program for 2024-2026 based on the federal government's strategy on digital skills. The specific package of measures for the further development of digital skills is listed in the "Digital Skills Austria" strategy, which can be downloaded on Downloads (digitalaustria.gv.at). 

"Digital Everywhere" workshops

Digital training is offered all over Austria via free workshops:
The "Digital Everywhere" workshops offer training opportunities on relevant digitalization topics for different target groups. On Digitale Kompetenzen (digitalaustria.gv.at) the free workshops can be viewed and booked. A self-check identifies the need for further training within your own digital skills and makes it easier to select suitable further training workshops.