Latvian Code Week 2024 initiative was launched with the Code4Europe conference for teachers. The event was organised by the Latvian Information and Communication Technology Association (LIKTA) as Code4Europe project partner together with the Datorium EdTech and RTU Riga Business School. Code4Europe mission is to inspire and empower the next generation of digitally-savvy Europeans, ensuring that programming and tech skills are accessible to all.
The conference was opened by Signe Bāliņa, President of the Latvian Information and Communication Technology Association. She emphasised the importance of digital skills for young people to achieve the goals of the European Digital Decade. Edgards Plētiens, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Education and Science of Latvia, Education Quality Management and Digital Transformation, and Claudio Rivera, Head of the RTU Riga Business School Bachelor’s Program shared a vision of ICT and digital education perspectives on its future benefits, risks and challenges. CodeWeek ambassador in Latvia Egita Petrusa together with LIKTA project expert Andras Krasavina presented the Code4Europe project and Code Week initiative.
In the second part of the conference, the participants had the opportunity to get involved practically in the workshop “Introduction to artificial intelligence. Ideas for classes with students”, led by RBS PreUniversity program manager Linda Sinka, and in the practical training “How to create learning materials in Latvian with a teacher’s artificial intelligence assistant”, led by the founder of EdTech Datorium Elchin Jafarov.
Community leaders
- CodeWeek ambassadors in Latvia – Anžela Džafarova, Egita Petrusa, and Dita Holla. Ambassadors are the main Code Week contacts in each country and help promote the Code Week vision in the local community.
- The Code Week Lead teachers: Elčins Džafarovs, Ingūna Melne, Elizabete Skricka, and Inga Stiprā. Leading Teachers is an active community of more than 450 educators from all over Europe.
The motivation of teachers to get involved in Code Week initiative includes personal, professional and social aspects. Code Week offers a unique opportunity for teachers to develop their skills, inspire students and promote positive change in education.
Key insights and motivation to get involved in Code Week activities:
- Promoting the digital literacy of educators and learners
- Using the possibilities of artificial intelligence technologies
- Implementation of educational and inspiring activities
- Fostering innovation and creativity
- Ensuring accessibility and inclusion
- Community cohesion, implementation of measures
- Promoting an initiative to promote digital education in your community
At the end of the seminar, industry experts and those involved in education acknowledged that the Code Week initiative is more than just an annual campaign, it is not just about programming skills and has been a bridge between educational institutions and society in general for more than 10 years.
Conference presentations are available HERE.
The recording of the conference is available on LIKTA Facebook page.
Join the Facebook group EU Code Week Latvia!
In 2024, a new category of the Annual Latvian ICT prize “Platinum Mouse” award: “Most active Code Week teacher” was created. Until November 4, teachers of general education institutions, interest-related education teachers, library specialists, and youth affairs specialists who have successfully implemented various programming and digital skills activities for students and young people within the EU Code Week are invited to apply.
Project Code4Europe is supported by European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA), Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL) project Nr. 101158834 — Code4Europe.
Source: European Digital Skills & Jobs Platform
