The role of
digitalization in public education
In the framework of its
InnoDay conference series, T-Systems Hungary organized a panel discussion,
titled „Digital transformation in public,
vocational and adult education”, at Corvinus University Budapest, on May
06. The event was attended by numerous experts of education and IT, as well as
Deputy State Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education, László Odrobina and
His Excellency, the Ambassador of Finland, Pasi Tuominen.
The
main purpose of the panel discussion was to review the strategic documents
supporting the digitalization of public education (EU Digital Agenda, National
ICT Strategy and Digital Nation Development Program) and to introduce
international best practices that may be adopted as models to follow in
Hungary.
The
discussion addressed the benefits of establishing the European Digital Single
Market, including affordable access to training materials by the public. The
participants agreed that the issue must be handled as a priority by member
states, too, for Europe to be able to catch up with North America and certain
Asian countries in terms of digital markets. Participants of the panel also
addressed the problems of defining digital skills, as well as the need to
familiarize pupils with information technology in a practice-driven manner. It
was mentioned that the European Union expects Hungary to increase the number of
college and university graduates and to decrease the number of early dropouts. In
the achievement of these two objectives, the rollout of digitalized public
education and training to a wide range of the public may play a strategic role.
As Pasi
Tuominen explained, Finland has always striven to assume a pioneering role in
digitalization, as new technologies promote businesses with high added value,
thus improve the country’s competitiveness. He also highlighted that robotics,
BIG DATA and 3D printing in particular are enablers of business model renewal,
thus should be in the focus of the EU’s industrial policy.
Regarding
vocational training issues, Deputy State Secretary for Vocational and Adult
Education of the Ministry for National Economy, László Odrobina highlighted
that „We are living the era of whole professions becoming digital, which makes
it especially important that the competences needed for the jobs of the future
be acquired by pupils while they are still in school.” He added that it must be
examined what policy makers and the IT sector can jointly do to develop the digital
infrastructure available at schools.
„Digitalization is not the ultimate goal of education,
but the vehicle that can take Hungarian public education to new destinations”,
remarked T-Systems Hungary’s Strategic Presales Director, Szilárd Gombos. He
added that „Digital competencies are the key to future jobs, thus
digitalization is not solely important in the context of education or
technologies, but it has a great impact on the labor market and even our
competitiveness.”