E-skills initiative in Latvia E-skills initiative in Latvia Coordinator: LIKTA ( Latvian Information and Communication Technology association )

Initiative Project goals: Project goals: Diminish the digital and social gaps in Latvia Diminish the digital and social gaps in Latvia Provide opportunities to everyone for acquiring the skills needed for using computers and Internet, regardless of age or social status Provide opportunities to everyone for acquiring the skills needed for using computers and Internet, regardless of age or social status Promote the usage of existing E-services on the Internet and facilitate the creation of new and useful content Promote the usage of existing E-services on the Internet and facilitate the creation of new and useful content Ensure that every person in Latvia will have access to Internet Ensure that every person in Latvia will have access to Internet Build-up social networking through participation, communication and cooperation Build-up social networking through participation, communication and cooperation Project objectives: Project objectives: Development of motivation strategy Development of motivation strategy Training programs development and pilot trainings Training programs development and pilot trainings Expand the project to cover the whole country by forming new partnerships Expand the project to cover the whole country by forming new partnerships Transfer the method and best practice to other countries Transfer the method and best practice to other countries Extend the project with new ways to further social inclusion Extend the project with new ways to further social inclusion

Project target audience SMEs and micro enterprises SMEs and micro enterprises Local and regional municipalities Local and regional municipalities Elderly population Elderly population ECDL and eCitizen test candidates ECDL and eCitizen test candidates Disabled persons Disabled persons People in remote rural regions People in remote rural regions People with low income People with low income Unemployed and job seekers Unemployed and job seekers National minorities National minorities

results People trained: People trained: 441 trainers preparation in 24 districts 441 trainers preparation in 24 districts Over people trained since Over people trained since Support and development activities: Support and development activities: Co-operation agreements with 22 regional municipalities about implementation of the project in Latgale, Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Zemgale and Rīga Co-operation agreements with 22 regional municipalities about implementation of the project in Latgale, Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Zemgale and Rīga Established 23 training and test centres in Latvia Established 23 training and test centres in Latvia 12 training curriculum developed and disseminated 12 training curriculum developed and disseminated Over 2 mln EUR budget accumulated for project realization Over 2 mln EUR budget accumulated for project realization

Training Centres

How helps people get jobs: success stories Case study: Liepāja Vladimirs Davļevičs since 1975 suffered from a serious illness Vladimirs Davļevičs since 1975 suffered from a serious illness In 1985 he was given the status of second-level disability, Vladimirs had not worked at a salaried job since that time In 1985 he was given the status of second-level disability, Vladimirs had not worked at a salaried job since that time In 2006, Vladimirs had a chance to take part in the training In 2006, Vladimirs had a chance to take part in the training Vladimirs finally found a job in March 2007 – he administers the Liepaja Internet homepage Vladimirs finally found a job in March 2007 – he administers the Liepaja Internet homepage Vladimirs Davļevičs found job after joining MS Unlimited Potential courses

How helps people get jobs: success stories Case study: Preiļi Anita Strupā was given the status of second-level disability in 2006 which kept her from continuing to work in the building industry Anita Strupā was given the status of second-level disability in 2006 which kept her from continuing to work in the building industry She joined the Preiļi Regional Association of Disabled People She joined the Preiļi Regional Association of Disabled People When she learned about a four- day MS Unlimited Potential computer training course, “Fundamentals of Text Processing”, she signed right up. Anita completed the courses on October 31, 2006 When she learned about a four- day MS Unlimited Potential computer training course, “Fundamentals of Text Processing”, she signed right up. Anita completed the courses on October 31, 2006 In December of 2006 her organisation asked her to become a consultant at the E- competence Centre In December of 2006 her organisation asked her to become a consultant at the E- competence Centre Anita Strupā: “When people learn how to open up their own mailbox and write a letter, when they learn how to use the Internet, they no longer question their own abilities. From the very start I saw how happy these people were at succeeding at these tasks, and I was enormously happy about their accomplishments and about my own abilities, too, of course.”

How helps people get jobs: success stories Case study: Ventspils At the Ventspils Digital Centre late in 2006, basic computer and Internet skills were learned by Daira (34 y.o.) and Gvido (36 y.o.) Rītiņš. Both wife and husband are hearing- impaired. At the Ventspils Digital Centre late in 2006, basic computer and Internet skills were learned by Daira (34 y.o.) and Gvido (36 y.o.) Rītiņš. Both wife and husband are hearing- impaired. The couple completed the courses successfully and have been regular visitors at the Centre ever since then – the family has no computer at home. Daira uses the computer to find information, work on texts and communicate with friends – this is very important for her. Daira has friends not only in Ventspils, but also in other parts of Latvia, and she doesn’t have that many chances to meet those friends. She communicates in sign language by using the important Skype programme, which supports video chats The couple completed the courses successfully and have been regular visitors at the Centre ever since then – the family has no computer at home. Daira uses the computer to find information, work on texts and communicate with friends – this is very important for her. Daira has friends not only in Ventspils, but also in other parts of Latvia, and she doesn’t have that many chances to meet those friends. She communicates in sign language by using the important Skype programme, which supports video chats Hearing-Impaired people in Ventspils using computers and Internet for communications with friends

How helps people get jobs: success stories Case study: Valmiera In accordance with the era of information and communications technologies, management at the VTU Valmiera transport company decided to offer computer skills training to their employees. Basic computer and Internet skills were obtained by 70 employees, starting with cashiers and dispatchers and ending with department directors and specialists In accordance with the era of information and communications technologies, management at the VTU Valmiera transport company decided to offer computer skills training to their employees. Basic computer and Internet skills were obtained by 70 employees, starting with cashiers and dispatchers and ending with department directors and specialists “The learning environment was also made more favourable by the fact that only our own colleagues were in the group, and they were not afraid to take risks or to make mistakes. They helped each other, and after the course was completed, they discussed the things that they had learned,” says company’s personnel director. “The learning environment was also made more favourable by the fact that only our own colleagues were in the group, and they were not afraid to take risks or to make mistakes. They helped each other, and after the course was completed, they discussed the things that they had learned,” says company’s personnel director. Personnel director of VTU Valmiera transport company Līga Meldere says: “People who work don’t have time to go on courses which last for months, and I am very pleased that this was a compact training session. It will be of use not just at work, but also in everyone’s private life.”

How helps people get jobs: success stories Case study: Rīga Starting from August, 2006 more than 1500 people trained – senior citizens, medical workers, teachers, salespersons, housewifes, bookkeepers, policemen, construction workers, dressmakers, managers, etc. Starting from August, 2006 more than 1500 people trained – senior citizens, medical workers, teachers, salespersons, housewifes, bookkeepers, policemen, construction workers, dressmakers, managers, etc. People are waiting in queue to be trained People are waiting in queue to be trained Riga City Council helped to prepare additional training module about municipality portal and E-services offered to Riga residents Riga City Council helped to prepare additional training module about municipality portal and E-services offered to Riga residents Augusts Muberts is the oldest training course graduate in Riga – he is 91 old, still working as machinist

How helps people get jobs: success stories Case study: Employers In employees of Latvia’s State Forests were trained in 4 project training centres – Riga, Jēkabpils, Talsi and Valmiera. A special wood reporting module training was added to training programme by employer. In employees of Latvia’s State Forests were trained in 4 project training centres – Riga, Jēkabpils, Talsi and Valmiera. A special wood reporting module training was added to training programme by employer. In Valmiera more than 200 medical workers were trained – nurses, doctors, administrators In Valmiera more than 200 medical workers were trained – nurses, doctors, administrators Māsa !!! Vita Jonāne, Valmiera Hospital educational nurse considers that after training hospital staff is more open for new technologies and use computers in everyday work

International recognition and partnerships selected as Signpost Project for EC eGovernment Conference in Manchester, November 2005 selected as Signpost Project for EC eGovernment Conference in Manchester, November 2005 project selected as Finalist for Stockholm Challenge, May 9- 11, 2006 (Competition among 1165 applicants) project selected as Finalist for Stockholm Challenge, May 9- 11, 2006 (Competition among 1165 applicants) project presented at the Latvian stand in the EC Ministerial Conference “ICT for an Inclusive Society”, Riga, June 2006 project presented at the Latvian stand in the EC Ministerial Conference “ICT for an Inclusive Society”, Riga, June 2006 project selected as Finalist for Baltic Challenge, August 2006 project selected as Finalist for Baltic Challenge, August 2006 project presented at Government Leaders Forum in Edinburgh; project highlighted in the publication „Building Skills for Employability in the 21st Century”, February 2007 (in cooperation with Microsoft) project presented at Government Leaders Forum in Edinburgh; project highlighted in the publication „Building Skills for Employability in the 21st Century”, February 2007 (in cooperation with Microsoft) project selected as key note presentation for European E- skills and Employability seminar in Barcelona, June 2007 (in cooperation with Microsoft) project selected as key note presentation for European E- skills and Employability seminar in Barcelona, June 2007 (in cooperation with Microsoft) project experience and methodologies transferred to Georgia in May 2008 project experience and methodologies transferred to Georgia in May 2008 We are willing and ready to share and replicate our best practice for other countries and regions (in EU and elsewhere) ! We are willing and ready to share and replicate our best practice for other countries and regions (in EU and elsewhere) !

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