The EU needs to step up its efforts in the global race for talents, particularly in the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). How can this be done in practice? 

The Commission is organising an online CONNECT University session on Tuesday 27 February 2024 to discuss precisely this question.

Draft Agenda

10:00 – 10:10 – Setting the scene – ICT Skills in the 2023 Report on the ‘State of the Digital Decade’ 

Speaker: Eric PETERS, Acting Head of Unit, Digital Decade Coordination, DG CONNECT 

10:10 – 10:25 – What is the EU doing to improve advanced digital skills? 

Speaker: Rehana SCHWINNINGER-LADAK, Head of Unit for Interactive Technologies, Digital for Culture and Education, DG CONNECT 

10:25 – 11:30 – Panel discussion (Speakers to be revealed closer to the date)

Moderator: Brendan Rowan, Managing Consultant at BluSpecs 

Speakers:

• Justina Bieliauskaite, Innovation Director, European DIGITAL SME Alliance 
• Madhumalti Sharma, Entrepreneur & tech educator, EU Code Week Ambassador, EU Robotics National Coordinator 
• Marc Durando, Executive Director of EUN, European Schoolnet network 
• Martin Hayes, Professor of Digital Technologies at the University of Limerick & lead author of the “Deans report” on How do we reach the target of 20 million ICT professionals by 2030
• Mylène Richard, Director of Campus Région du Numérique Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region 
• Representative from the Belgian Presidency of the Council (speaker TBC) 

11:30 – 11:50 – Q&A with online participants 

11:50 – 12:00 – Conclusion 

For further information on the event, please visit this page.