Digital competences: A must for educators and learners in Central Asia

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, it is crucial for educators and learners to possess the necessary digital competences to thrive. Recognising this, DARYA project organised a capacity building and peer learning workshop in Turin, Italy, on 7–9 June 2023.

Five vibrant Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – joined forces, with the support of the European Training Foundation (ETF), to embark on a thrilling journey of exploration and collaboration. Their mission was to delve into the realm of digitalisation and start a dynamic discussion on its transformative potential within their respective countries. Together, they forged ahead, fuelling their shared aspirations and discussed the path toward a digitally empowered future. 

The workshop built upon four DARYA familiarisation webinars introducing various tools to aid stakeholders in their digital education reform, including the ETF Digital Education Reform Framework, the Digital Competence Framework for citizens (DigComp), the Digital Competence Framework for educators (DigCompEdu), and self-assessment tools for education providers and teachers to assess their digital capacity. 

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Through in-depth discussions, the workshop aimed to explore digital competences; present and discuss diverse approaches for developing digital competences among educators and learners; showcase experiences from Central Asian countries to inspire collaboration and knowledge sharing; develop country-specific strategies to enhance digital competences, considering unique challenges and opportunities; and identify common areas of interest among participating countries to foster collaboration. 

In their quest for knowledge and collaboration, participants embarked on peer learning visits to Italian vocational education and training providers. These providers shared their passion for shaping the future of education and their expertise, offering glimpses into their transformative methods and strategies to empower both educators and learners with digital skills. 

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All countries agreed on the importance of the collaboration between the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labour, and education and training providers. They also discussed the significance of digital skills for both the adult population and educators, as well as the importance of developing a distinct framework for digital competences.

Furthermore, all countries agreed that the presentations of DigComp and DigCompEdu had provided valuable guidance on the direction for the development of digital skills. As a result, the countries expressed their interest in adapting DigComp and DigCompEdu frameworks into their formal and non-formal education systems.

Moreover, the discussion emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts among the Central Asian countries to facilitate the sharing of experiences.

Organised in conjunction with the European Year of Skills, the event emphasised the importance of fostering skills development in the digital era. It provided a platform for participants to engage in meaningful discussions, share best practices, and collectively address the challenges and opportunities in developing digital competences among educators and learners. By fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, the workshop aimed to lay the foundation for impactful digital education reforms in Central Asia.