The Hellenic Network of IT Professionals (HePIS) in collaboration with the Council of European IT Professionals Associations (CEPIS), announce the launch, for Greece, of the pan-European campaign GetOnline Week 2015.
" GetOnline Week is an annual campaign that aims to encourage European citizens to enhance their digital skills, so that they become more competitive in the job market," points out the president of the Council of European Information Technology Professionals Associations (CEPIS) and CEO of PEOPLECERT, Mr. Byron Nikolaidis.
This year's event is being implemented in 24 countries in Europe and is organized by the pan-European organization Telecentre Europe.
"The activities of CEPIS and HePIS within the framework of GetOnline Week 2015 highlight that with a new approach to innovation and technology we can break out of the impasse of unemployment. Only with Technology will we succeed in halting the migration of young people and their return to Greece," emphasizes Mr. Nikolaidis.
In 2014, more than 104,000 Europeans participated in the campaign by taking part in events, training programmes and seminars. At the same time, “in recent years, more than 700,000 European citizens have improved their quality of life as a result of the campaign’s activities,” says the President of CEPIS and CEO of PEOPLECERT.
GetOnline Week is part of the "e-skills for jobs" initiative, which is organized by the European Commission and the European Schoolnet and Digital Europe organizations.
The President of HePIS, Mr. Nikos Faldamis, emphasizes that: "The selection of HePIS as a national partner of the Get Online Week 2015 campaign is yet another reward for the efforts and commitments of the organization for the development of Information Technology at a national and European level. We are particularly happy that, through our multitude of activities, we contribute actively and measurably to the implementation of European policies.".
Within the framework of GetOnline Week 2015 for Greece, HePIS, in collaboration with CEPIS, have proceeded with the following actions aiming at the implementation of European policies in the field of Information Technology with measurable results:
“FIT4JOBS” : Through the “FIT4JOBS” program, unemployed people have the opportunity to participate in a 180-hour education and training program, completely free of charge, in advanced IT skills, specifically in programming and designing web applications, using software and tools that are in high demand in the labor market. The first training section, specializing in the PHP programming language, began on March 9, while the second section, specializing in the Java programming language, began on March 26. At the same time, HePIS is planning additional training programs within the framework of FIT4JOBS, which will be announced in the near future.
Getcoding.gr: Getcoding.gr aims to bring all young people closer to Programming through a series of educational tools and activities. With the help of a simplified programming language, young people, through the Getcoding game, are trained in logic and the first steps of programming. The initiative was announced on February 25 and since then more than 8,000 young people have participated in the game, acquiring the basic concepts of programming, such as assumptions, iterations, questions and flowcharts. Within the framework of the initiative, 25 seminars have already been organized in Thessaloniki, Alexandroupoli, Kiato, Lefkada, Agrinio, Xanthi, Corfu, Kalamata, as well as in the areas of Pallini, Egaleo, Ampelokipoi, Chalandri, Argyroupoli, Piraeus, Aspropyrgos and Neo Heraklion. Through the seminars, participants come into contact with specialized teachers and gain useful advice for their first steps in the world of Programming.
Active Women: The “Active Women” program enables migrant and refugee women, as well as women over 50, to acquire basic ICT skills. It aims at equal access of vulnerable groups to the information society, as a means of eliminating digital illiteracy, addressing social exclusion and promoting gender equality. Active Women is part of the framework of Action 3.2.4., “Support to NGOs (Women’s Organizations)” of the Operational Program “Administrative Reform 2007-2013”, with the beneficiary being the Special Service for Coordination, Management and Implementation of Co-financed Actions of the Ministry of Interior (EYSYDE-YPES). The program is implemented in the Prefecture of Attica and interested parties can register for participation on the program website www.activewomen.gr
Getbusy.gr: For the third consecutive year, the Getbusy online competition will be held, through which candidates will have the opportunity to win rich prizes, such as scholarships for Bachelor's and Master's degrees, ECDL certifications, as well as career guidance seminars. The competition will be announced in the first week of April.
More than 200 students were informed on March 26 about the activities of GetOnline Week at an event at the University of Piraeus.
YouRock.jobs: A new social media platform that helps young people discover their skills through their daily activities, creating a professional profile that will make them attractive to prospective employers. As the national partner of YouRock in Greece, HePIS implements information campaigns promoting this useful tool to young people. So far, more than 1,000 young people have created their profile on YouRock.jobs.
Sponsors and supporters of the above activities are the following companies and institutions: Microsoft Greece, PEOPLECERT, DEREE-The American College of Greece, ALBA Graduate Business School at the American College of Greece, Master AE, ManpowerGroup, Career in Progress, 100mentors.
"The selection of HePIS as a national partner of the GetOnline Week 2015 campaign is yet another reward for the efforts and commitments of the organization for the development of Information Technology at a national and European level. We are particularly happy that through our multitude of activities, we contribute actively and measurably to the implementation of European policies," said the President of HePIS, Mr. Nikos Faldamis.
Source: kathimerini.gr
