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.
Sectors such as Banking, Medicine or Journalism will have as basic prerequisite basic code and programming skills, CEPIS president said, stressing the need to upgrade Information Technology to Greek education.
Programming, on the other hand, is an integral part of all of our daily lives (e.g. when we use GPS while driving or other online applications). The average developer salary is over $140.000 per year. Despite the high demand and high salaries, the paradox is that the number of IT graduates in Europe is constantly decreasing. Today less than 20% of IT professionals are under the age of 30. 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 percentage in Ireland 22%, lower percentages 10%-11% in Italy, Belgium, Spain, Netherlands) according to research of CEPIS.
Getcoding.gr
Getcoding.gr, an initiative for young people who wish to acquire basic programming knowledge is now "in the air". The action aims in particular, to become a very useful tool for parents and teachers who wish to introduce young people to the logic of New Technologies.
Newcomers in the Getcoding game quickly and easily learn basic concepts such as iterations, conditionals, questions, and flow charts, while developing skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, logic, creativity, and and algorithmic thinking. Within the framework of the initiative, school visits, informational seminars and workshops will take place in many regions of Greece, through which the trainers will provide targeted information to young people on their programming and perspectives.
At the same time, gifts such as tablets, laptops and mobile phones will be drawn between the candidates who will finish and the 10 slots of the game. Getcoding.gr is part of the international Corporate Social Responsibility initiative, Microsoft YouthSpark, whereby Microsoft puts young people at the heart of its actions, taking into account two factors: the high unemployment rates observed in youth and the increasing gap in opportunities among those with the skills and opportunities to succeed and to those who lack them. Getcoding is implemented by the Hellenic Network of Professionals of Informatics (HePIS), Microsoft Hellas and PEOPLECERT, supported by ManpowerGroup, Master KEK and Career in Progress. The sponsor of the game is the Intelearn training application development company.
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 school education program. According to Timos Platsas, Communications & Corporate Social Responsibility Director of Microsoft Hellas: “Through this collective initiative we aim to help young people, from all over Greece, to acquire basic programming knowledge and maximize their potential. Like Getbusy.gr, GetCoding, as part of the Microsoft Southspark 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
