What is the initiative and where is it implemented (city or country)?
Luxembourg has provided one-on-one and group computer and internet literacy training sessions targeted at senior and low-income citizens affected by digital exclusion since 2000.
Internetstuffen, municipality telecentres funded by the State, offer an ‘Internet Führerschein’ (Computer Driving Licence) – a 20-hour intensive course that leads to a diploma from the Ministry of Education
The Internetstuffen also offer refresher courses to update or further knowledge in social networking, internet communication, online shopping or leisure.
How was the initiative established? How was it implemented?
Offered by the National Ministry of Education’s Children and Youth Department of Adult Education (SFA) in collaboration with the State Centre of Information Technology (CTIE), the ‘Internet Führerschein’ allows citizens wishing to acquire knowledge and competencies to use information and communication technology in a conscientious and responsible manner.
The training is provided nationwide. There are four areas of training:
- ICT knowledge,
- research,
- communication,
- development.
After registering, each recipient receives a dossier, a USB stick to store course materials and individual work. This free dossier is provided by the CTIE and distributed to learners by the trainers.
The ‘Internet Führerschein’ certificate includes an assessment of knowledge and competencies, which is completed when the objectives of the four areas of learning have been attained.
Which stakeholders are involved in the design and/or implementation of the initiative? Which sectors do they represent?
The Ministry of Education, Children and Youth is responsible for developing and implementing government policy on education. The education system involves formal and non-formal education and aims to provide equal learning opportunities for all children, youth, and adults.
Access to digital technologies, e-learning, and high-quality digital resources is the Ministry’s current strategy. Provision of lifelong training is one of the Ministry’s main missions
Vocational training and training for adults are both embedded in the lifelong-learning framework. Lifelong learning takes place both within and outside of education and training systems – from early education, preschool and primary education and throughout the working life and retirement. Public and private initiatives comprise a system that provides continuous quality education and training from childhood to retirement
A complex network of stakeholders is currently responsible for the provision of continuing training, including the State, professional chambers as initiators and promoters, municipalities, the University of Luxembourg, trade unions, research centres, associations and foundations, sector-specific and private training bodies and local enterprises.
What are the impacts of the initiative in terms of facilitating lifelong learning? Who does it benefit and how?
Luxembourg Lifelong Learning Center provides a variety of certified courses related to computer and internet literacy for work advancement and adult professional development. The European Computer Driving Licence (ECDL) offered by the Center is an “internationally recognized certification documenting practical competencies in the use of the most common IT applications”
- Trainees and students can improve their chances for entry into professional life through an internationally recognized certificate.
- Employers can assess the knowledge of their employees objectively and plan effective investment into education and training.
- Unemployed learners can increase chances of being hired or re-entering professional life with the proof of knowledge and competencies in various computer applications required on the job market.
- Employees can prove their knowledge and competency in various computer applications and engage in professional development
(Luxembourg Lifelong Learning Center, n.d.) .
References:
European Commission. 2015. 'Internet Führerschein' au Luxembourg. [online] Available at: https://epale.ec.europa.eu/de/node/4359 [Accessed 26 August 2020].
Lifelong-learning Luxembourg. 2020. Continuing Training. [online] Available at: https://www.lifelong-learning.lu/Detail/Article/Comprendre/la-formation-continue/en [Accessed 26 August 2020].
Luxembourg Lifelong Learning Center. n.d. European Computer Driving Licence - ECDL certification. [online] Available at: https://www.lifelong-learning.lu/Formation/european-computer-driving-licence-ecdl/en [Accessed 25 November 2020].
Ministry of Education, Children and Youth. n.d. The Ministry. [online] Available at: https://menej.gouvernement.lu/en/le-ministere.html [Accessed 26 August 2020].
UNESCO. 2018. Building tomorrow's digital skills: What conclusions can we draw from international comparative indicators? [online] Available at: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000261853 [Accessed 26 August 2020].