Our Digital Village – Co-designed digital education in rural areas

Our Digital Village aims to intervene in rural areas by promoting the acquisition of digital and transversal skills, preparing people to face the challenges of the future.

Operated by: KMOP

Digital skills are crucial for almost every aspect of daily life, particularly in the workplace, education, and preparing for future challenges. Therefore, the education and training system should adapt accordingly. According to the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI 2021), 56% of individuals in Europe have at least basic digital skills and this percentage should increase to 70% by 2025 according to the EU Skills Agenda. However, there is still a substantial gap between rural and urban areas when looking at the digital skills of the population: on the EU level, only 48% of individuals living in rural areas possess at least basic digital skills, while this percentage reaches 62% among people living in the cities. Moreover, the rate of early leavers from education and training is higher in rural areas and towns than in cities, and the schools there often struggle to provide quality education due to their geographical isolation, small size, and a lack of opportunities. Consequently, the European Commission in the “long-term Vision for the EU’s Rural Areas” underlined the importance of measures in order to “ensure no one and no place is left behind” and the need to increase digital skills and connectivity in these areas.