Paving the way for a digital future: Highlights from ICODSIP

On November 14th and 15th, the Escuela Politécnica Superior and Universidad de Acalá hosted the 1st International Conference on Digital Skills and IT Professionalism (ICODSIP) in Spain, co-organised by Council of European Professional Informatics Societies (CEPIS) and Asociación de Técnicos de Informatica (ATI). The event focused on the advancements happening in digital skills and IT professionalism, and brought together professionals, leaders, and attendees from across Europe. 

Dr. Ernestina Mensalvas from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, a highly esteemed professional within our consortium, was a keynote speaker for the event. With her extensive expertise, she shared a keynote speech on “Navigating the 2030 Digital Europe Challenge: Reskilling, Upskilling, and Shaping the Future of Professionalism”.  

Highlights from Ernestina’s Keynote 

As Europe pursues its ambitious Digital Europe 2030 agenda, preparing the next generation with essential skills has never been more critical. Ernestina’s keynote explored:  

  • Key challenges ahead—from bridging the digital skills gap to fostering a culture of lifelong learning as there are essential steps to prepare for what lies ahead. 
  • Opportunities of digital transformation and how to leverage them for sustainable growth and foster innovation. 
  • Practical strategies to build a resilient workforce ready for a digital-first economy and to cultivate a workforce that can be adaptable, resilient, and prepared to thrive with the rapid technological advancements occurring.

Ana Moreno presents LEADSx2030 

Another highlight of the event was a presentation about LEADSx2030 conducted by Ana Moreno, professor at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. She spread awareness of how the project aims to enhance the benefits of investments made through the DIGITAL Programme SO4 by leveraging data, knowledge, networks, and communities. Ana outlined the core objectives of LEADSx2030, and how they drive our mission to fulfil the ambitions of the Digital Decade to ensure global competitiveness, resilience, and prosperity for European industries while giving individuals the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in the decade that lies ahead of us. 

Aligning professionalism with technology 

The discussions highlighted essential strategies for reskilling and upskilling, emphasising the need to align professionalism with technological advancement.  It spread awareness of the importance of building a future where professionalism aligns with technological advances and empowering individuals and organisations to thrive in a rapidly changing world. As digital technology continues to reshape industries and societies, conferences like these lay the groundwork for sustainable and inclusive digital future.