Learners and educators in Wales will now benefit from a nationally-agreed vision for post-16 digital skills up to 2030.

Developed with support from the UK’s edtech not-for-profit, Jisc, the Welsh government’s Digital 2030 initiative will help ensure that today’s learners – as the workforce of tomorrow – have the digital capabilities and confidence to succeed in everyday life and support the Welsh economy.

Starting point

Digital skills are becoming increasingly important, and learners will need to develop their critical inquiry, communication and technical abilities to make the most of future opportunities.

As a starting point for the next year, further education institutions, work-based learning providers and adult learner providers are asked to:

• Ensure that there is a clear commitment from senior leaders to using digital technology effectively, safely and inclusively to support teaching and learning in Welsh, English and bilingually
• Communicate the Digital 2030 vision to staff, managers, governors and learners
• Establish clear responsibilities for implementation

It is acknowledged that most learning providers have already begun these processes and that many are already well advanced.

Supporting education and training providers to deliver the right skills, the Digital 2030 initiative has clear aims and objectives relating to key areas across education, including leadership and management, curriculum delivery and assessment and staff development.

Changing direction

Targeting all post-16 provision in Wales, the strategy offers diverse opportunities for individuals to engage or re-engage with learning throughout their lives. This includes those who wish to pursue new interests, who want to upskill and progress in their current career, or who hope to re-train and change direction.

The Digital 2030 initiative shares the vision of Jisc’s Education 4.0 project; both see further education and training as vital for reskilling the UK’s workforce to meet the needs of the fourth industrial revolution and its emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and robotics.

The Digital 2030 framework was built through collaboration across the Welsh further education, skills and adult learning sectors. Its construction involved input from 300 staff and learners, the contributions of 80 objective-building workshop participants, peer reviews by leadership members from 65 learning providers, all with the full backing of the Welsh government.

This initiative supports and extends the Digital Competence Framework, which is already available to schools throughout Wales, supporting cross-curricular digital skills delivery.

Interactive guide

Jisc will remain a strategic delivery partner for the Welsh government. An interactive guide supports implementation of Digital 2030 and contains more than 100 useful resources to encourage the development and delivery of digital practices.

Alyson Nicholson, head of Jisc Wales, said:

“The Digital 2030 framework will help providers right across Wales realise the benefits and opportunities digital technologies bring to teaching, learning and employability.

“At Jisc, we are looking forward to working with our members to implement the framework and grow the Digital 2030 community through continued collaboration and sharing.”

Wales’ minister for education, Kirsty Williams, said:

“The world is changing and we need to equip learners of all ages with the skills they need for the digital future. This means ensuring our classrooms and further education settings keep up with emerging technologies.

“I’d like to thank all our partners who’ve been involved in the creation of this plan and I look forward to continue working with you to transform post-16 digital learning in Wales.”

To find out more about how Jisc can help you to take this framework forward, please contact wales@jisc.ac.uk.