Kicking off e-skills week with launch of new report: Immigrant women, e-skills & employability in Europe
The Technology & Social Change Group kicks off the European Union’s e-Skills week with the launch of a new report: Immigrant women, e-skills, and employability in Europe: The case of Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, and Spain.
This study examines how improving digital competences and access to computers and the Internet can advance employability and social inclusion. Based on a survey of 375 immigrant and 155 native-born women who received e-skills training and employability support services through 32 non-governmental organizations, the report provides insights into some of the challenges immigrants face in the labor market, the role of NGO-based e-skills training and employability programs, and the public policies and program elements that foster social, economic, and cultural integration.
This research was funded by Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential’s Community Technology Skills Program and led by TASCHA’s Maria Garrido in collaboration with Spanish researchers Gabriel Rissola and Andrea Diaz (Dynamic Organization Thinking), Italian researchers Milvia Rastrelli and Jaime Ruiz (L’A.P.I.S. Social Cooperative), and associate researchers Tiberiu Dughi, Daniel Manate (University of Arad, Romania), Jennifer De Vaal (University of Applied Science in Amsterdam), and Gabriella Simor (an independent researcher in Hungary).
The report (available for download) will be launched at a roundtable hosted by John Vassallo, Microsoft Vice President EU Affairs General Counsel with participation by several key European NGOs: Fundación Esplai, Computerwijk, CNCA, NIOK, CIVITAS, and EOS.
Held from March 1 through 5, 2010, the European Commission’s e-Skills Week highlights the growing demand for skilled ICT users and professionals to drive a competitive and innovative Europe. This campaign seeks to inform students, young professionals, and businesses about the vast range of opportunities that ICT-related jobs present.
