EU Code Week Gathering: Uniting for a Digital Future

Publication date: September 17, 2024

Last week, Code4Europe – a consortium of 45 committed and passionate organisations, and the broader EU Code Week community travelled to Brussels for an in-person gathering. We brought some orange to the lovely Belgian capital and ensured the two days were buzzing with excitement, energy and coding enthusiasm. The first meeting took place on Wednesday, 11 September 2024 at the Microsoft Center Brussels, and was attended by our consortium members, meanwhile the second meeting was held on Thursday, 12 September 2024 at SQUARE Brussels Meeting Centre, near the stunning Mont des Arts.

Early on Wednesday, the consortium was addressed by Jeff Bullwinkel, Regional Vice President at Microsoft Europe, who highlighted the growing demand for ICT professionals in Europe, with a projection of 20 million available jobs in the sector by 2030. To meet this demand, initiatives like the Microsoft DreamSpace project in Ireland and EU Code Week are pivotal. These initiatives are designed to inspire and educate young people, preparing them for future careers in technology. The following speakers were Kristina Vujic, Project Officer at the Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) and Salvatore Nigro, CEO of JA Europe, who both emphasised the EU’s commitment to digital education through projects like Code4Europe, which aims to reach 25 million young people. Lastly, the word was passed to Maxi Tourau, Project Manager for Code4Europe, who also spoke about the initiative’s expansive outreach and the importance of community in achieving its ambitious goals.

The Code4Europe Consortium

Building a Strong Community

EU Code Week’s success hinges on its vibrant, international community of volunteers and stakeholders. Attention was brought to ambassadors and especially national hubs. The latter serve as central touchpoints to promote and disseminate EU Code Week initiatives at the national level. These hubs provide crucial support and resources to local actors, including ambassadors, lead teachers and educators, empowering them to participate actively in the project.

So, what is the role of each member of the EU Code Week community? National hubs act as the central nodes for promoting and supporting EU Code Week activities at the national level. Ambassadors serve as the primary contacts for EU Code Week within each country, promoting the initiative locally. Lead teachers connect schools and encourage participation from teachers and students. Edu coordinators are representing ministries of education or other educational authorities. They mainly oversee the implementation of EU Code Week in their respective countries.

The broader community that the Code4Europe project seeks to include features the youth education sector (youth associations, student unions, universities, after-school clubs), industry (business associations, SMEs, digital skills communities), civil society (youth centres, NGOs) and government stakeholders (municipalities, local governments, policy groups, development agencies). Understanding and engaging these diverse groups is essential for the initiative’s success, therefore the consortium is employing diverse communication channels for each target group, such as for example Facebook, Github, Instagram, YouTube, X, LinkedIN. (Follow us if you haven’t done so already! 😊)

Panel Discussion – Salvatore Nigro, Georgi Dimitrov, Denisa Boca, Ioannis Gaviotis, Kristina Vujic, Pauline Mass, Borut Campeli

Engaging Young Learners

The following day, on Thursday, the 12 of September, the event continued near the wonderful Mont des Arts. The day began with an Institutional Welcome Session where  Georgi Dimitrov, from the European Commission, set the tone for the day by highlighting the significance of the EU Code Week and its ongoing impact across Europe. After a fruitful discussion with other key institutional actors, we delved into the key novelties of the EU Code Week 2024, exploring the latest updates, initiatives, and strategic directions for the upcoming year. Participants downloaded Microsoft’s Minecraft Education App and had a fun time testing it on their devices. Everyone discovered how it can play a key role in engaging young learners in coding activities. The morning session concluded with the focus on the growth of EU Code Week, with discussions on expanding reach, increasing participation, and fostering a stronger coding culture among students and educators across the EU.

After the lunch break, the Impact Assessment Session took centre stage where all the participants debated and reflected upon the impact of EU Code Week. The discussions revolved around expanding reach, increasing participation, and fostering a stronger coding culture among students and educators across the EU. This session was crucial in understanding the successes, challenges, and areas for improvement, guiding future efforts to enhance the overall impact of EU Code Week on the European coding and digital literacy landscape.

EU Code Week Ambassadors

EU Code Week Launch Event

On Friday, 11 October in the afternoon, the EU Code Week launch event will take place online. This 90-minute event is designed to inspire and empower teachers, school leaders, educators, parents, youth, and students to participate in many Code Week activities and help spread the coding word. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with us, share ideas, and learn how we can make digital skills accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Tune in to help us reach as many people as possible and set the tone for a successful EU Code Week,  follow our social media for more updates on the exact time and platforms used.

To conclude, the Code4Europe project is off to a fantastic start with a vibrant kickoff meeting that highlighted the passion and commitment of our diverse community. As we continue this journey together, we encourage everyone to get involved! Upload your activities on the Code Week activities map, and be sure to follow us on social media to stay updated. Don’t miss the EU Code Week Launch Event on October 11—it’s your chance to connect, learn, and contribute to making digital skills accessible for all. Let’s code the future of Europe together!