Since 2022, October has been Digital Skills Month. Through the NAU service, the FCCN Unit is taking part in the mission to increase the digital skills levels of the Portuguese population by promoting a culture of knowledge and continuous learning.
In 2018, the government set itself a goal: to raise digital literacy levels from 53% to 80% by 2030. At the same time, other initiatives have been carried out, such as the "I Am Digital" program, launched in July 2021, which aims to digitally qualify one million people by the end of this year.
To the same end, Digital Skills Month was created in 2022, to be held in October. "[This is the] month dedicated to making us collectively aware of the importance of investing in human capital," said the Secretary of State for Digitalization and Administrative Modernization, Mário Campolargo, at the launch of the initiative.
In 2023, under the slogan #tratarodigitalportu, Digital Skills Month will once again be celebrated, during which various projects, programs and initiatives that promote digital training in Portugal will be highlighted. With this in mind, the FCCN Unit, through its NAU service, will take part in the event that culminates this mobilization: the Digital Skills Forum, on 30 October.
"As important as reading"
The efforts made in this area aim to provide the Portuguese population with essential knowledge and skills. "Providing the basic skills so that people can have this digital literacy" is currently "as important as learning to read or do math", Deco's president, Vasco Colaço, told the weekly newspaper Expresso .
According to the European Commission, digital literacy consists of the skills and competencies needed to present, exchange or produce information, as well as communicate and participate in collaborative networks via the Internet. Increasingly, these skills are important for promoting citizens' autonomy, critical thinking, creativity and interaction. In the words of digital rights activist Francella Ochillo, "in a digital society, digital rights are civil rights".
The need for change is clear from the figures: in 2021, two out of ten Portuguese had never used the Internet. However, digital literacy is now fundamental for citizens to truly integrate into society. Just think how important digital technologies are today, for example, in making new connections and learning new things or finding a job, being up-to-date and understanding our digital footprint, guaranteeing our safety.
The role of the Unit FCCN
Since it was founded, one of NAU's main goals has been to increase the population's digital skills. "Stimulating digital literacy," the project's objectives state, alluding to this essential component. This goal, in turn, is related to the others: the promotion of a culture of knowledge and continuous learning, particularly among the Portuguese population, by enabling education and training for extended communities of users.
It is these characteristics that make NAU essential in fulfilling its mission of promoting digital literacy. Through Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) it is possible to communicate massively, bringing the most relevant learning to citizens and responding to their needs. This is why NAU is part of the transversal actions of the Portugal INCoDe.2030 initiative, promoting digital development, digital inclusion and literacy, education and qualification of the active population.
