Digital Skills EU 2030: TCS Leading Change

Leading Change is one of the 5 TCS Values. I actively participate and attend few events from European Commission . In one of the recent webinar, the speaker passionately emphasized on Digital skill gap and SDG4 and European Union 's vision by 2030. In my role as Talent Development leader in TCS Europe, I was able to resonate with how TCS leads the wave of change on Digital up-skilling initiatives embracing the goal of quality education by enabling digital-ready workforce. This article explains the same.

Based on this article from European Union, EU faces a significant digital skills gap, which threatens its economic growth and workforce adaptability. According to the European Commission, 44% of Europeans lack basic digital competencies, despite nearly 90% of jobs requiring such skills. Advanced abilities in areas like AI, data analytics, and cybersecurity are even scarcer, posing challenges for sectors such as healthcare, renewable energy, and finance.

This shortage is particularly problematic as Europe strives to achieve its Digital Decade 2030 goals, aiming to equip 80% of adults with basic digital skills. It also impacts the European Green Deal, where the transition to green and digital economies relies heavily on a digitally proficient workforce.

Linking Digital Skills to SDG 4: Quality Education : The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) emphasizes equitable, inclusive education and lifelong learning by 2030. Digital competencies are central to SDG 4, promoting:

- Lifelong Learning: Preparing adults for careers in a rapidly digitizing job market.

- Equity in Education: Reducing barriers to accessing digital education for marginalized communities.

- Global Literacy: Building Information and Communication Technology (ICT) proficiency for global economic participation.

Digital skills align with SDG 4 by fostering sustainable development, empowering individuals, and addressing inequalities in education and employment.

TCS’s Role in Bridging Digital Skill Gaps

Here are few of the key interventions in Europe :

1. Membership in the Pact for Skills

TCS contributes to the Pact for Skills, a European Commission initiative addressing workforce skill gaps in key sectors. This collaborative effort focuses on offering training and upskilling in digital technologies, fostering a resilient, future-ready workforce.

?? [Read More](https://pact-for-skills.ec.europa.eu/index_en)

2. AI Capability Programs

TCS has trained over 150,000 employees globally and 65% in Generative AI (GenAI) skills, establishing an AI Experience Zone for hands-on learning. This initiative enhances professionals' readiness to work with cutting-edge technologies, driving innovation across industries like automation and data analytics. For the European workforce, multi-lingual AI cloud academy is enabled to contextualise the pedagogy to local culture.

?? Learn More from Head of AI Cloud at TCS Siva Ganesan :(https://www.tcs.com/who-we-are/newsroom/press-release/tcs-strengthens-ai-readiness-launches-new-ai-experience-zone)

3. Grow@TCS

The Grow@TCS initiative prioritizes role-based, continuous learning for employees, ensuring they remain competitive in fast-evolving technological landscapes. This personalized training approach underscores TCS’s commitment to workforce excellence.

?? [Discover Grow@TCS](https://www.tcs.com/careers/trainee-program-graduates-europe)

Also ?? [Read the highlights] of 2024 GROW@TCS from Program manager Kranthi Adepu : here

4. Community Engagement: goIT Initiative

TCS’s goIT program encourages STEM careers among underrepresented communities, providing students with real-world exposure to digital technologies. By empowering marginalized groups, this program expands the talent pool while addressing societal inequalities in tech education. Our CSR Head of Europe Roy Sharon articulates about the commitment to communities and focus on STEM for students in the article :

?? [Explore goIT](https://www.tcs.com/who-we-are/corporate-social-responsibility/article/tcs-empowers-fostering-inclusive-growth)

Vision from Leadership

TCS Geography Head, Sapthagiri Chapalapalli reflects on the company’s dedication to fostering innovation and sustainability through AI and workforce development:

"Our mission is to build an ecosystem where talent and innovation thrive together, driving sustainability and economic growth."

?? [Building AI Ecosystems for Sustainability](https://www.tcs.com/insights/blogs/building-ai-innovation-ecosystem-sustainability)

By aligning its initiatives with the EU’s Digital Decade 2030 goals and SDG 4, TCS is addressing the digital skills gap with innovative programs and sustainable practices. Its contributions empower individuals, drive industry resilience, and promote equitable access to education and employment opportunities in a digital-first world.

#DigitalSkills #Sustainability #SDG4 #AI #EU2024 #TCSValues #LeadingChange

(Image generated using DALL E )