Opportunities for young people to learn digital skills

This is a time of change, when those who quickly gain new skills and are ready to learn from professionals benefit much more as they consider their future and career development. It is also the digital age, in which more and more people use technology not only to communicate with others or for entertainment, but also to do their jobs effectively. Young people enjoy spending time in the digital world, but it is worth using that time productively by gaining digital skills that could help them earn more and achieve stability in the future.

Why are digital skills essential?

As technology becomes increasingly important, the skills needed to succeed at work are also changing. Digital skills that enable people to work effectively with new technologies and tools are now essential. It is time to take a more serious approach to developing the skills young people will need for the digital professions of the future.

According to a European Cedefop study (DOI: 10.2801/159395), digital skills are already essential for successfully performing job duties in 67% of occupations, while many other roles require people to continuously improve their digital skills.

Digital skills enable people to work effectively with new technologies and tools, create applications, and develop apps that solve problems and improve a range of processes globally, nationally, and within individual businesses.

By learning to apply digital skills and programming, young people build a solid foundation for their development.

What are the benefits of learning these skills?

IT specialists are and will remain in high demand in the job market.

Learning digital and programming skills offers many benefits: the potential to earn a good income (among the highest salaries in Europe), international job opportunities while still at school, career flexibility, and IT knowledge that can be applied in almost any industry.

Moreover, starting programming at an early age unlocks young people's potential and develops a range of other skills: the ability to find solutions independently, sustained attention, logical thinking, an understanding of how things are connected, self-discipline and self-confidence. It also increases productivity.

These skills and knowledge are also useful in everyday school life: young people can present themselves better, use digital tools more effectively and improve their English.

Technology is becoming increasingly important, so by choosing to learn digital skills, young people build a strong foundation for a successful career. The IT skills they gain can even allow them to start working while still at school!

When should young people start, and what prior knowledge is important?

Children are using technology from an increasingly early age, but using a phone and computer and spending a lot of time in the digital world does not necessarily mean that they have developed digital skills. There is a significant difference between a consumer of technology and a developer who can apply technological solutions, create new products and bring new ideas to life.

Courses currently available include robotics and computer science classes for younger children from the age of 6-7, as well as programming classes that are recommended from the age of 12, providing a strong foundation for further study of programming.

English language skills are also important, as English is the working language of the programming and technology industries. Most learning materials, documentation, terminology and forums are available in English, so starting to learn IT and digital skills without a basic knowledge of English will be much more difficult. However, at first, being able to understand simple everyday English is entirely sufficient. As students learn programming and digital skills, their English also improves alongside them.

Where can young people learn digital skills?

There are several options available, so parents need to choose the one that best suits their children. The aim should be to maintain their interest while showing them the wide range of practical applications and encouraging them to build things together and create interesting projects that open up an entirely different world of technology. Young people become creators of digital products rather than merely passive users, as they were before.

Many free resources are available online and can certainly be a good place to start. However, not all of them are high quality, and there is no teacher to ask for help or to answer questions. This approach works very well for those who already have some basic knowledge and experience of independent learning, but it is not suitable for beginners, especially young people who are still unsure where to start.

Another option is to take specially designed courses. Courses for children and young people differ both in the way lessons are taught and in what they cover. Lessons for children tend to be more game-based, developing logical thinking and an understanding of sequences. For young people, it is important to choose lessons where they work on real projects, practise solving problems independently and develop an understanding of how their skills can be applied.

When choosing the best course for your child to learn digital skills and programming, it is important to consider several key factors: the organisation's goal, the curriculum, how the classes are delivered, the instructors' experience and enthusiasm for motivating young people, and the outcomes after completing the course.

At Datorium, we offer programming courses designed specifically for young people. Classes take place online using a modern learning platform that makes it easy to communicate with and engage young people. The instructors are industry professionals who receive special training to make the learning process engaging and interesting for young people. Encouraging active communication between students and teamwork is a key part of Datorium's training, while the courses gradually prepare young people to begin their careers in IT. Datorium's goal is to help students succeed so that, after completing their courses, they can apply their digital and programming skills and are ready to successfully begin a career or launch their own start-up.