ECEI12 - Partnerships for a digital Europe

Published on: 15.11.12
Source: eigener Bericht

The forth European Congress on E-Inclusion (ECEI) took place on 5th and 6th November 2012 in Brussels. This conference was built on the momentum created at ECEI11 the year before which has discussed the facilitating role that public libraries can play in providing local communities with access to digital resources. ECEI12 focused on the further expansion of the participation and engagement of stakeholders in order to broaden and deepen the conversation on E-Inclusion all over Europe.

The approximately 130 delegates and representatives from the E-Inclusion and library sectors and also government officials from more than 22 European countries shared their good practice and debated about the opportunity that public libraries offer to Europe as key solutions for delivering eInclusion goals: also the Europe 2020, Europe’s Growth Strategy places a continual emphasis on the development of effective partnerships in order to tackle the current economic and social challenges facing Europe.

The aim of the first meeting day was to give the participants a better appreciation of the current status of EU policy and a better understanding of key components within the Europe 2020 Growth strategy. The focus was on the strategic importance of including digital initiatives within the EU policy priorities but also the key role public libraries can play in delivering services that can help to achieve these priorities. Investments in E-Inclusion can have a great impact in fields like education, employment and local improvement.

The second meeting day was built on the knowledge gained in the sessions the day before to examine examples of good practice delivered by local stakeholders including public libraries, municipalities and other actors. The participants could exchange their experiences and ideas by introducing and discussing good practice examples of successful E-Inclusion delivery models and effective ways of partnership formation. Another issue was how to raise overall awareness of the strategic importance of public libraries in relation to the European 2020 Growth Strategy priorities.

Susanne Bernsmann, Stiftung Digitale Chancen presented the aims and objectives and also the approach of the European project ‘Digital Literacy 2.0 - Dlit 2.0’ (EC Lifelong Learning Programme). Eight partners from seven European countries will train staff in libraries and other non-formal learning places for the use of Web 2.0 and the provision of ICT based non-formal learning offers. The staff will also be enabled to address properly socially and educationally disadvantaged people. In a second step adult learners from these target groups will be attracted to these learning places by the use of Web 2.0 thus improving their motivation to learn and empowering them to participate in social life. All DLit 2.0 partners have associated local partners on site to achieve the people they want to attract to come to their library and to have a focused channel of dissemination to reach the people they want.

In parallel workshop sessions at ECEI12 in the afternoon it was possible to have a more interactive and focused opportunity for the participants in smaller groups to discuss key areas where public libraries and other stakeholders could deliver positive outcomes - this will be carried on at ECEI13.

Get more information from this website:
http://ecei12.com/

view all current news