EU Code Week aims to help transform lives by making digital skills and innovation more accessible and inclusive for citizens across Europe. In October, schools, non-profits, coding clubs and other initiatives will be organizing activities centered on coding, tech and computational thinking.

The European Commission and BeCentral are thrilled to invite you to the EU Code Week 2018 Panel Discussion: Bringing Coding and Tech to schools, Challenges and Opportunities.

The panel discussion, led by Bulgarian-born Rositsa Zaimova, Associate Partner & Co-Founder of Dalberg Data Insights, Forbes 30under30, will focus on the following questions:

• Digital skills are essential for today’s life and labour market. Yet 15% of young people do not have basic digital skills in Europe. How can initiatives such as EU Code Week support the upskilling of Europe’s young?

• Many countries are introducing digital skills including programming in their schools curricula. Some are not. What are the main challenges? And opportunities?

• What are the best practices in Europe to teach coding?

• The ICT sector is known for being male dominated and lacking diversity. What are the steps currently being done to inspire girls and train women to be part of the sector? What is currently being done to ensure diversity in technology?

The panel speakers will include

• Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society at the European Commission.

• Rosanna Kurrer, EU Code Week Ambassador and Co-Founder of CyberWayFinder

• Gijs Cortens, Co-Founder of HackYourFuture

• Sharon O’Mara, Senior Director, World Wide Education Programs/Marketing, Apple

• Kalle Enström, Director of Årstaskolan, Stockholm.

The panel discussion will be followed by a networking lunch.

*Note that this is a free event but subscription is mandatory*