Advanced Digital Skills Research Articles

Horizon Europe framework programme as a factor supporting the energy transformation of the country

The article discusses the objectives of the Horizon Europe framework programme, conceived by the European Commission for 2021–2027, for the purposes of research and innovation. This programme is structured around three pillars, focusing on: creating the right conditions for researchers to acquire a high level of knowledge and skills, harnessing Europe’s intellectual capital, development of key technologies and innovative solutions in selected areas. The thematic groups of Horizon Europe have been presented, including: health, digital solutions, climate, energy, industry, bioeconomy. Attention has been paid to the organisation of international cooperation in the scope of research and innovation, where partnership has a special place in the upcoming programme perspective. The partnership is understood here as cooperation between research teams from EU Member States, the private sector, foundations or associations in undertaking and carrying out initiatives to support the development and implementation of the research agenda. The place of hydrogen technology in the development of various sectors of the economy was emphasised – from energy, road, rail, air, inland and sea transport, through heating and air conditioning, to the petrochemical, chemical and steel industries. The gas industry has a great role to play in the implementation of these technologies, having both the experience and the infrastructure to transport natural gas with the addition of hydrogen or to store hydrogen as an energy carrier. The benefits of implementing Horizon Europe have been presented. In addition to the chief benefits, related to the main objective of helping to make Europe a climate-neutral continent by 2050, attention has been paid to ensuring open access to publications and raw research results as well as to reinforcing international cooperation between research teams. The main assumptions and objectives of the Digital Europe programme have been presented, as well as the areas covered by funding (e.g. artificial intelligence, advanced digital skills, wide use of modern digital technologies in the entire economy). Both Horizon Europe and Digital Europe are compatible with the European Green Deal strategy of the EU.

Intensive and excessive Internet use: Different predictors operating among adolescents

The aim of this study was to determine the factors which have a predictive value when it comes to the intensive and excessive use of the Internet among adolescents. Predictors tested included different psychological, behavioural, and socio-demographic variables. The data were collected at the end of 2018 within the framework of the international survey EU Kids Online, on a sample of 863 adolescents from Serbia (434 [50%] males) aged 11 to 17 years. It was shown that the intensive use of the Internet was more characteristic among girls, adolescents with a tendency towards antisocial behaviours, those who think to have advanced digital skills and those whose parents did not apply restrictive forms of mediation. On the other hand, the excessive use of the Internet was related to certain psychological variables, like anxiety, impulsivity, and perceived discrimination on various grounds, but also to the absence of active parental mediation and support in the use of digital technologies.

Analysis of the Digital Skills in the Eu Labor Market. a Case Study of the Banking Sector.

The digitisation of the economy has been a global trend in the last decade and more significantly during the last five years. The European Union recognises that digitalisation changes the structure of the labour market, affecting employment and income distribution. Over the last ten years, digital technologies have entered more and more sectors of the European economy. Over 40% of EU workers have been involved in changing and/or replacing the technologies they use at work. Structural changes in the labour market in Europe are closely correlated with the very high demand for advanced digital skills in the coming years.This paper analyses the political, economic, socio-cultural and technological factors affecting the development of digital skills in the European Union (PEST analysis), with a focus on the banking sector.

Is There a Relationship Between Cyber-Dependent Crime, Autistic-Like Traits and Autism?

International law enforcement agencies have reported an apparent preponderance of autistic individuals amongst perpetrators of cyber-dependent crimes, such as hacking or spreading malware (Ledingham and Mills in Adv Autism 1:1–10, 2015). However, no empirical evidence exists to support such a relationship. This is the first study to empirically explore potential relationships between cyber-dependent crime and autism, autistic-like traits, explicit social cognition and perceived interpersonal support. Participants were 290 internet users, 23 of whom self-reported being autistic, who completed an anonymous online survey. Increased risk of committing cyber-dependent crime was associated with higher autistic-like traits. A diagnosis of autism was associated with a decreased risk of committing cyber-dependent crime. Around 40% of the association between autistic-like traits and cyber-dependent crime was mediated by advanced digital skills.

EUROPEAN PUBLIC POLICIES IN THE AREA OF THE DIGITAL ECONOMY AND SOCIETY: COUNTRY PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS

The concept of the digital economy and society is quickly changing the reality of how citizens live and work. Originally anchored under the discipline of the information society, the new model of a digital technologies economy and society announces a shift from the knowledge-based to the data-based paradigm. This change was recognized in Europe in 2007, with the European Commission’s Communication “E-skills for the 21st Century: Fostering Competitiveness, Growth and Jobs”. In the following years, many European Union and national public policies and programmes were designed and introduced in Europe in order to keep abreast of the profound changes the model of digital economy and society brings into our world.This paper analyses European public policies’ and programmes’ scope and objectives, evaluating their impact in terms of country-wide digital competitiveness over the period of 2014–2017. The paper provides insights at a European- as well as country-specific levels (via case studies) and covers the following areas: (1) scope and objectives of European public policies for the digital economy and society in Europe; (2) key actors involved in the public policies of the digital economy and society in Europe; (3) evaluation of the European public policies for the digital economy and society in Europe. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed for data collection and analysis: database research and analysis, statistical analysis, content and thematic research, and analysis from policy papers and reports.The implementation of digital public policies in the EU from 2014–2017 led to an increase in the number of people with basic and advanced digital skills. However, the number of countries below the EU-28 average in 2017 in terms of human capital preparation for a digital society and economy was high. The digital public policies on the human capital dimension in the EU need to improve in national action and lead with urgency to a significant increase in the number of people with basic and advanced digital skills.

How digital skills can help tackle youth unemployment

Some 66.6 million young women and men are unemployed and 144.9 million young workers are employed but living in poverty, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO). On the other hand, research by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) points out that there will be tens of millions of jobs available for people with advanced digital skills in the coming years.

Digital Competitiveness of European Union Member States from the Perspective of Human Capital

Abstract The concepts of "digital skills" and "digital competences" are key terms in the discussion related to the type of skills people need nowadays not only in terms of digital inclusion in the society but also in terms of employability. According to the latest definition by the European Union, digital skills “can be broadly understood as the ability to locate, organise, understand, evaluate, create and share information using digital technology, at different levels of competence” (European Commission, 2017). The rapid development of information and communication technologies (ICT) bring major transformations with respect to the individual’s integration in society and employability. The paper analyses the 28 member states of the European Union (EU) from the perspective of the pesons’ digital skills and employability in the science, technology (including the ICT) sectors over the period 2015 - 2017. The paper covers the following areas of research: (1) Overall digital skills, computer skills, internet skills of individuals in the EU 28; (2) Human capital with advanced and specialist digital skills in ICT in the EU 28; (3) Evolution of the digital competitiveness of the EU 28 member states from the perspective of human capital over the period 2015-2017. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed for data collection and analysis: database research and analysis; statistical analysis; content and thematic research and analysis from policy papers and reports.

Digital Competitiveness of European Union Member States from the Perspective of Human Capital

The concepts of "digital skills" and "digital competences" are key terms in the discussion related to the type of skills people need nowadays not only in terms of digital inclusion in the society but also in terms of employability. According to the latest definition by the European Union, digital skills “can be broadly understood as the ability to locate, organise, understand, evaluate, create and share information using digital technology, at different levels of competence” CITATION Eur171 \l 1033 (European Commission, 2017). The rapid development of information and communication technologies (ICT) bring major transformations with respect to the individual’s integration in society and employability. The paper analyses the 28 member states of the European Union (EU) from the perspective of the pesons’ digital skills and employability in the science, technology (including the ICT) sectors over the period 2015 - 2017. The paper covers the following areas of research: (1) Overall digital skills, computer skills, internet skills of individuals in the EU 28; (2) Human capital with advanced and specialist digital skills in ICTin the EU 28; (3) Evolution of the digital competitiveness of the EU 28 member states from the perspective of human capital over the period 2015-2017. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed for data collection and analysis: database research and analysis; statistical analysis; content and thematic research and analysis from policy papers and reports.

Digital Competitiveness of European Union Member States from the Perspective of Human Capital

The concepts of "digital skills" and "digital competences" are key terms in the discussion related to the type of skills people need nowadays not only in terms of digital inclusion in the society but also in terms of employability. According to the latest definition by the European Union, digital skills “can be broadly understood as the ability to locate, organise, understand, evaluate, create and share information using digital technology, at different levels of competence” CITATION Eur171 \l 1033 (European Commission, 2017). The rapid development of information and communication technologies (ICT) bring major transformations with respect to the individual’s integration in society and employability. The paper analyses the 28 member states of the European Union (EU) from the perspective of the pesons’ digital skills and employability in the science, technology (including the ICT) sectors over the period 2015 - 2017. The paper covers the following areas of research: (1) Overall digital skills, computer skills, internet skills of individuals in the EU 28; (2) Human capital with advanced and specialist digital skills in ICTin the EU 28; (3) Evolution of the digital competitiveness of the EU 28 member states from the perspective of human capital over the period 2015-2017. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed for data collection and analysis: database research and analysis; statistical analysis; content and thematic research and analysis from policy papers and reports.

A Competence-Based Approach to Training Specialists in the Digital Society

The article analyzes the influence of digital technologies on transformation of the labor market in social services. Modern professions require workers with advanced digital skills as well as technical and engineering specialists with advanced soft skills. The article analyzes official documents and global trends in the future labor market and presents the experience of National Research Tomsk State University (TSU) in developing transprofessional skills of students in different specialties. The authors conclude that modern society and the labor market demand new forms and methods of education aimed to develop interdisciplinary competence.

Female university student\u2019s ICT learning strategies and their influence on digital competence

Emerging technologies are leading to a rethink informal education and giving rise to new educational models, especially at university level. This paper looks into the strategies used by female university students to learn ICT and how this influences their level of digital competence. To do this, we surveyed 368 Spanish university women aged 20 to 34, using two scales measuring their learning strategies and digital skills. The findings showed that university students used a variety of strategies to learn about ICT, with strategies based on independent and collaborative learning prevailing. Results also showed that those women who used a wider variety of strategies to learn ICT attained more advanced digital skills. These results suggest the need to incorporate these forms of learning used by women with advanced digital skills into university teaching.

O impacto da exclusão digital na utilização potencial de um mercado eletrónico de serviços de cuidados de saúde e serviços sociais

More and more, individuals need advanced digital skills to fully participate in society. In a Europe increasingly aging is now recognized the importance and potential of the service industry for aging well based on information and communication technologies (ICT), as exemplified by the electronic market of social services and healthcare, the GuiMarket, that the authors proposed to a municipality in the North of Portugal. Based on the results of a survey undertaken on a sample of 315 individuals, this article discusses the importance recognized to such service and the frequency of intended use, concluding that there is an intimate relationship between the access to ICT and the use that respondents anticipate making of the GuiMarket.

Rethinking localism in the broadband era: A participatory community development approach

This research presents findings from a case study of how three municipal access channels were transformed into channelAustin, a digital community access center in Austin, TX. More generally, it addresses the question of how states and municipal governments can employ video franchise resources to promote sustainable adoption and use of broadband services. Drawing on participatory approaches to community development, this paper offers a model of community participation in local information ecosystems to guide planning and evaluation of these interventions. Findings indicate that digital community media projects like channelAustin can help municipalities serve information needs of ethnically diverse local publics, while also promoting advanced digital skills, economic opportunities, civic engagement, and social cohesion. However, the article recommends that more attention be placed on community outreach, partnerships with nonprofits and other local public media, local curation of citizen-produced, digital content, and the consolidation of accessible online distribution channels through which residents can connect and deliberate about local issues. I discuss the implication of these findings for efforts to connect broadband and media localism policies in the U.S.