CEPIS (Council of European Professional Informatics Societies). According to Mr. V. Nicolaidis, president of CEPIS, “basic programming skills will be necessary for many jobs in the near future.
More than 90% of today's jobs require high-quality digital skills, with the demand increasing annually by 3% and the number of IT graduates going down. In a few years we will learn computer science as we learn reading and writing. Many executives warn that in a few years, those who do not know the code will be considered illiterate as they will be the core of all the skills of the workforce. " Unfortunately, the digital image of our country is negative, as reflected in a survey by the European Commission, where it ranks 26 among 28 member states of the EU 3 in digital competences. It comes only from Bulgaria and Romania.
Why, however, someone who does not belong to the field of Informatics learn programming?
Having Planning knowledge, a young person will have easier access to the labor market and become automatically competitive. Elementary programming skills will now be required by the candidates and will be included in job descriptions in the near future.
Fields, such as those of Banking, Medicine or Journalism, will have basic knowledge of code and programming as a prerequisite, said the president of CEPIS, underlining the need to upgrade IT in Greek education.
Programming is, on the other hand, an integral part of everyday life of all of us (eg when using GPS while driving or other web applications). The average programmer's salary is over $ 140.000 per year. Despite the high demand and high wages, it is paradoxical that the number of IT graduates in Europe is constantly decreasing. Today less than 20% of IT professionals are under 30 years. At pan-European level, the average age of IT professionals is 42 years. The industry lacks talent. At the same time, the representation of women is also low: the percentage of women in the IT sector is only 15% pan-European (highest rate in Ireland 22%, lower 10% -11% in Italy, Belgium, Spain, of CEPIS.
Getcoding.gr
Getcoding.gr, an initiative for young people wishing to acquire basic programming skills, is now in the air. The action aims, in particular, to become a very useful tool for parents and teachers wishing to initiate young people in the New Technologies logic.
Young people participating in game of Getcoding easily and quickly learn key concepts such as iterations, conditionals, questions, and flowcharts, while developing skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, logic, creativity, and algorithmic thinking. As part of the initiative, school visits, informative seminars and workshops will be held in many regions of Greece, through which the trainers will provide targeted information to young people about Programming and its perspectives.
At the same time, prizes such as tablets, laptops and mobile phones will be raffled among the candidates who complete all 10 tracks of the game. Getcoding.gr is part of the international Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, Microsoft YouthSpark, through which Microsoft puts young people at the center of its actions, having taken into account two parameters: the high rates of youth unemployment and the ever-widening opportunity gap between those who have the skills and opportunities to succeed and those who do not. Getcoding is implemented by the Hellenic Network of IT Professionals (HePIS), Microsoft Hellas and PEOPLECERT, while it is supported by ManpowerGroup, Master KEK and Career in Progress. The game is sponsored by the educational application development company Intelearn.
At the same time Getcoding is part of the "Computing in Schools" initiative of the European Council of Informatics Professional Associations (CEPIS) through which CEPIS aims to encourage the inclusion of Informatics in the education program of schools. According to Mr. Timos Platsa, Director of Communication & Corporate Social Responsibility of Microsoft Hellas: "Through this collective initiative we aim to help young people, from all over Greece, acquire basic programming knowledge and maximize their potential. Like Getbusy.gr, GetCoding, as part of the Microsoft Youthspark program, will be close to young people to contribute in this direction."
"HePIS, as a facilitator of programs that encourage creativity, ambition and youthful vision, actively contributes to initiatives that highlight the potential of young people through the use of Information Technology," said Mr. Panagiotis Georgiadis, Secretary General of HePIS. Thus, Getcoding.gr aims to encourage young people to learn about Programming to acquire useful knowledge and skills for their professional careers. "
Source: naftemporiki.gr
