The project provides public spaces freely accessible to everyone in the local area – from individual citizens to associations, schools and businesses – to accompany and support the digital transformation process, to create an inclusive, smart community that generates a high level of social added value and involves public and private actors in innovation and sustainable development.
The DigiPASS Network, financed by the Umbria Region in collaboration with the municipalities, is one of the tools to respond to the need for innovation for citizens and businesses. These open public spaces called DigiPASS, distributed throughout the Region, have the objective of accompanying citizens and businesses in the use of digital services as well as in seizing the opportunities that technologies make available to businesses by encouraging innovation.
The launch of the Silver Economy Strategy by the European Commission and the statistics on the estimation of the European population age by 2060, makes today blatant that seniors and elderly people will play a major role in Europe’s next decades. In the next forty years, one in three Europeans will be over 65 and whether we look at them as active citizens or consumer expenditure, the EU economy and community revolve around the needs and demands of this growing population.
The path leading to active and healthy ageing and citizenship passes through digital literacy. Digital skills acquisition consequently become a necessary and pivotal step for allowing the over 65s to take action and efficiently contribute to the development of the European Union. How to put in place those skills acquisition is a key factor. According to The Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) 2019, one of the main barriers for digital literacy development in the EU is the fact of not having access to internet at home due to lack of need or interest, insufficient skills and cost-related barriers that become the main causes of social exclusion. As a consequence, digital skills acquisition for low skilled adults should be prompted and promoted in public spaces on the first stages where users need to and can be supported by trainers or tutors.
Although many of citizens do have access to internet at home, the use the make of it is very limited. Low skilled learners and in particular people over 60-65 find very difficult to access the internet and operate autonomously with digital devices. In this perspective, the initiative taken by Umbria Region within the Digital Agenda to open digital hubs in the territory appears to go in the right direction: the Digipass spaces offers citizens the opportunity to access digital services with the support of digital animators.
VET and Adult Education institutions and organizations; adult training centers, policy-makers, social innovation experts, other education stakeholders and general public
The DigiPASS Network, financed by the Umbria Region in collaboration with the municipalities, is one of the tools to respond to the need for innovation for citizens and businesses. These open public spaces called DigiPASS, distributed throughout the Region, have the objective of accompanying citizens and businesses in the use of digital services as well as in seizing the opportunities that technologies make available to businesses by encouraging innovation. Today, many people see the opportunities in going digital, while for those lacking the right knowledge, it can represent an obstacle at risk of marginalization. In DigiPASS, citizens can find trained people to turn to for help in using a new digital service, such as booking clinical exams online, making co-payments for medical services online, registering a child at school, opening an e-mail box, paying a bill and much more. In addition to these functions, there is also the activity of raising awareness and fostering innovation of the territory.
DigiPASS stems from the belief that public authorities can add value to society by removing barriers to opportunity and helping people see the need to share knowledge, to build on past achievements and make the results available to all.
By allowing users to become more digitally literate, the project contributes to bridging the digital divide and fostering social inclusion and a more complete form of citizenship. It thus gives effect to article 3 of the Italian Constitution, which sets out an obligation to remove economic or social obstacles which constrain citizens’ freedom and equality and impede their personal development.
People use the project facilities for everyday things like booking and paying for medical appointments, registering children for school, setting up e-mail accounts or requesting a digital identifier for access to online public administration services. Companies use them to discuss digital matters with other organisations, the self-employed use them as a coworking space, and for associations and training bodies they are a place for education, exchange, or information sessions.
Based in the town of Marsciano, the Media Valle del Tevere DigiPASS was the first to be inaugurated and opened in July 2018. It was followed by those in Assisi in September 2018, Gubbio and Narni in October 2018, Foligno in February 2019, Città di Castello and Orvieto in April 2019, and Spoleto in June 2019. A further four – at Norcia, Perugia, Terni and Trasimeno –have been openede in 2020.
Each space is staffed by an expert able to provide guidance on digital services and who can help users understand how new technologies work.
The project was born out of the view that, when it comes to innovation, a shift in focus from technology to people is vital. By providing physical spaces for cooperation, DigiPASS enables local actors to build relationships to make their communities healthier and more liveable.
To aid this process, the project organises a range of events. These include workshops on the digital transformation in all sectors of society and use of digital public services, and information meetings for parents and children on internet use and the risks and opportunities of social networks. In addition, tools are provided to support development of skills required by the job market, exchange of knowledge and generation of synergies between digital technology and training.
Furthermore, DigiPASS has become a meeting point for schools, where students, teachers and administrators can experiment with new digital learning tools and methodologies. It facilitates the launch of courses for people with disabilities and special educational needs, allowing everyone to benefit from digital innovation.
Today, many people see the opportunities in going digital, while for those lacking the right knowledge, it can represent an obstacle at risk of marginalization.
In DigiPASS, citizens can find trained people to turn to for help in using a new digital service, such as booking clinical exams online, making co-payments for medical services online, registering a child at school, opening an e-mail box, paying a bill and much more. In addition to these functions, there is also the activity of raising awareness and fostering innovation of the territory.
In synergy with the regional intervention is placed the brilliant initiative of the students of the 5B Scientific High School of the Salvatorelli Moneta Institute of Marsciano have started shooting a video – reportage to be presented at the 2019 edition of the competition “Investing in your future”, promoted by the Umbria Region to publicise some of the interventions funded by the Regional Operational Programme (ROP) of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Plans are to harmonise DigiPASS with subsequent actions in support of business innovation, through Sviluppumbria’s Living LAB projects, understood as open innovation projects and laboratories that will strengthen research and technological development for the improvement of the quality of life in the territory. The Living LAB activities (financed in action 1.4.1 of ERDF ROP 2014/2020) will be carried out primarily in the same physical spaces identified for DigiPASS (financed in action 2.2.1 of the ESF).
In July 2019, the project gained national recognition, receiving Italy’s prestigious OpenGOV Championship prize in the ‘Citizenship and Digital Competences’ category.
Total investment for the project “DigiPASS in Marsciano – spaces open to digital in Umbria” is EUR 240 000, with the EU’s European Regional Development Fund contributing EUR 120 000 through the “Umbria” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the priority “ICT”.
The DigiPASS project has created a network of public spaces equipped with PCs, Wi-Fi, video conferencing, meeting rooms and relaxation areas in the Italian region of Umbria. Run by municipal authorities, they are open to all citizens and are free of charge. This gives people access to information and communication technologies and enables them to enhance their digital skills.
agendadigitale (at) regione.umbria.it
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