IT Professionalism Conference 2021


Date: 20-22/04/2021

The European Commission has declared the coming years to be Europe’s ‘Digital Decade’. This means significantly accelerating the uptake of new technologies, while growing the region’s IT talent pool.

One of the EU targets is to have 20 million IT professionals working by 2030, which revitalises the current initiatives for professionalising the European IT workforce and calls on all stakeholders to increase their efforts and cooperation. To address current and new challenges, IT Professionalism Europe, eSkills Malta Foundation and the Irish Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition held the ‘IT Professionalism Conference 2021’, taking place during three half-day online sessions on 20-22 April.

We gathered perspectives from Europe, as well as those from other continents, to identify the necessary steps that will help meet the new EU target goals, covering political initiatives, developing technologies and the outlook for young IT professionals. The days of the conference were separated by the following themes:

20 April – ‘The Challenge of Professionalism in Europe and Beyond
  • Join to hear from representatives of the Commission on the latest EU policies related to IT professionalism. The panel discussion will feature speakers from different parts of the world sharing their experience on the topic.
21 April – ‘IT Professionalism in Practice
  • This day will focus on tackling skills gaps in the sectors of software and blockchain.
22 April – ‘Becoming an IT Professional
  • Are you studying to work in IT? Or are you considering choosing this career path? Then this day is for you. During the panel discussion, experiences and skills needed to start a career in IT will be discussed. We will also hold a ‘CV clinic’, exploring how to improve your application to get hired. Send us your CV and motivation letter and get live feedback during the event.

Presentations and recordings are available below. If you have any questions, get in touch with us at events@itprofessionalism.org


How will Europe increase its number of IT professionals? List your solutions here.

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Programme


20 April: The Challenge of Professionalism in Europe and Beyond

Introduction

14:20-14:30


The European Skills Agenda and the Pact for Skills

14:30-14:40


The Digital Education Action Plan

14:40-14:50

  • Anusca Ferrari, European Commission, DG EAC.C4 (Digital Education)

CEN – IT Professionalism: European standards

14:50-15:10


IT Professionalism Europe Activities and Progress

15:10-15:25


Findings of the study on IT Professionals skills gaps in Malta

15:25-15:40


Break

15:40-15:50


New I-DESI report: IT Professionals Supply and Demand (where Europe stands globally?)

15:50-16:05

  • Balazs Zorenyi, European Commission, DG CNECT.F4 (Digital Economy and Skills) – see slides 

Panel discussion. What is done in other countries on IT professionalism?

16:05-17:05

Moderator: Mary Cleary, Irish National Coalition


Closing remarks

17:05 – 17:15

  • Mary Cleary, CEN/TC428, Irish Computer Society and Irish Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition

21 April: IT Professionalism in Practice: Software and Blockchain

Introduction

09:50-10:00


Blockchain and its relevance in Europe

10:00-10:15

  • Pierre Marro, European Commission, DG CNECT.F3 (Digital Innovation and Blockchain) – see slides

Blueprint for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills – Blockchain

10:15-10:30


Blueprint for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills – Software

10:30-10:45


Regulating Blockchain and AI at the national level – A Maltese Perspective

10:45-11:00

  • Joshua Ellul, Chairman of Malta Digital Innovation Authority and Director of Centre for DLTs, University of Malta – see slides

Break

11:00-11:15


Panel discussion. Increasing European technological sovereignty and business competitiveness

11:15-12:15

Moderator: Carm Cachia, eSkills Malta Foundation and Maltese Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition


Closing remarks

12:15-12:30

  • Carm Cachia, eSkills Malta Foundation and Maltese Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition

22 April: Becoming an IT Professional: Session for young people

Introduction

14:20-14:30


Panel: Young IT professionals – what to expect?

14:30-15:30

Moderator: Austeja Trinkunaite, IT Professionalism Europe


Break

15:30-15:45


Why should you join an IT professional body and what does it bring to you and your career?

15:45-16:10


CV Clinic: Improve your CV based on the e-Competence Framework

16:10-17:10


Closing remarks

17:10-17:20