In today’s fast-paced digital world, the convergence of technology and education is essential for shaping the future workforce.

Recognizing this need, the Romanian organization Digital Nation took on the mission to address the disparity between the country’s vast pool of tech talent and its lower-than-average basic digital skills in the EU.

Founded in 2013 by tech professional Paul Apostol, Digital Nation is an educational initiative that empowers students, teachers, and other professionals to acquire the digital skills that traditional education often overlooks.

Digital Nation’s approach is rooted in peer and community learning, driving various programs that cater to people of all ages.

“We have three age groups for our programs: students between 16 and 19 years old, those entering the workforce for the first time between 19 and 23, and young professionals aged 23 to 32. However, throughout the years, we also had people over 55 years old who performed very well,” says Apostol.

 Studying from home or from the hub?

 A cornerstone of Digital Nation’s strategy is its community hubs, strategically located across different cities. These hubs are designed to be innovation incubators where learners, educators, and professionals can converge to share ideas and collaborate on projects.

“Our hubs serve as vibrant, innovation-centric spaces where learners and professionals can come together, collaborate, and access different resources, including mentors,” Apostol explains.

What sets Digital Nation apart is its commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that people from all backgrounds have access to quality education and resources. This focus includes working with individuals from smaller cities, who often face greater challenges in accessing educational or job opportunities.

“We don’t want to focus only on the big cities of Romania like Bucharest and Cluj. Instead, we plan to open 12 hubs in the next 2 years in the smaller cities. This way you can work remotely from our space for a company from Bucharest, Berlin, London, or elsewhere. Now we have two finalized hubs, in Brasov and Piatra Neamt,” Apostol shares.

Sources: TheRecursive