Description
Country
Focus area
The policy instrument addresses the issue of labour shortages in the field of ICT. As there is a serious mismatch between the supply and demand of such workers, more active measures are needed in addition to classical ones, e.g. increasing the number of study places and engaging qualified foreign labour. This implies that the possibilities for retraining and in-service training for adults have to be broadened
Link
Reference/weblink
Implementation level
At what level is the initiative implemented?
National
Legal base
Legal base (E.g. Law, regulation, implementing provision, other)
MINISTERIAL ORDER
Starting period
TIMESPAN: In what year did the initiative commence?
Since January 2017
Perspective
PERSPECTIVE: is the initiative based on evidence derived from skill forecasts or foresight activities?
The initiative considers the data on the needs of the ICT sector provided by OSKA: the skills need and forecast of ICT workers.
Policy area
To which POLICY AREAS(s) does the initiative apply?
Funding
How it is funded?
Funded by national government
Other
ESF
Skill mismatch
Skill mismatch target
What type(s) of skills MISMATCH does the initiative aim to addresses?
Underqualification (individuals' qualifications/credentials are below their job's needs)
Skill shortages (employers cannot fill their vacancies due to a lack of skills in the labour market)
Skill gaps (worker's skills are below the level of proficiency required by their employers and jobs)
Other
The policy instrument is explicitly designed to tackle labour and skills mismatch in the ICT field. As there is a serious mismatch between the supply and demand of such workers (with knowledge and skills in ICT), this instrument broadens the possibilities for retraining and in-service training for adults in the ICT field, both for employed and unemployed adults.
Skills matching focus
How does the initiative address skills mismatches?
It aims to provide participants with basic ICT skills and improves digital literacy.
It aims to provide participants with basic ICT skills and improves digital literacy.
It aims to provide participants with basic ICT skills and improves digital literacy.
It aims to provide participants with basic ICT skills and improves digital literacy.
It aims to provide participants with basic ICT skills and improves digital literacy.
Skills delivered
What types of skill does the initiative deliver?
Basic digital skills
More advanced digital skills
Methods
Methods
What methods of undertaking skills assessments and / or skills anticipation does the policy instrument utilise?
Skills forecasting
It uses the results of the OSKA system regarding the needs of the ICT sector.
Use of skills intelligence
How is labour market information / skills intelligence used within the initiative?
The training programme support addressing the needs of the ICT sector, but also other sectors where ICT competences are required.
The training programme support addressing the needs of the ICT sector, but also other sectors where ICT competences are required.
Stakeholders
Main responsible body
Main body or organisation with overall responsibility for the initiative.
Other
BCS Koolitus – the ICT training division of Baltic Computer Systems, the leading ICT continuing training company in Estonia
Other involved organisations
Which other organisations have a role in the initiative?
Other
Companies are involved in providing internships.
Beneficiaries
Who are the intended beneficiaries?
Adults with low basic skills
The initiative provide its participants with basic software development skills.
Adults in employment with upskilling potential
The initiative provide its participants with basic software development skills.
Adults in employment with reskilling potential
The initiative provide its participants with basic software development skills.
Sustainability
Success factors
SUCCESS FACTORS in the implementation
The approach taken with the programme is very flexible, e.g. the curricula and activities are amended after each retraining period, feedback is collected from all stakeholders and used for improving the retraining process. There is strong cooperation between the state, training providers, ICT employers and representative organisations
Monitoring and evaluation
MONITORING and EVALUATION: Is progress measured regularly? What are the indicators used to measure progress of the policy instrument? Have any evaluations been conducted?
After each retraining period, feedback is collected from the participants (about 3 months after completion).
Updates
UPDATES: whether there have been any major updates of the initiative since it has been implemented?
Yes
Feedback is collected after each retraining course, and the curricula and study process is amended accordingly.
Effectiveness
EVIDENCE ON EFFECTIVENESS: How effective is the policy instrument?
The training programme has a clear focus. It offers training and also internship opportunities. The programme trained around 500 people during 2017-2020
Sustainability
SUSTAINABILITY: How sustainable is the policy instrument? Do you expect the instrument to continue over the next few years and why?
Estonia is already experiencing serious labour shortages in the field of ICT and this will most probably continue, because its population is ageing and there are not enough students, or adults who choose ICT as their specialty. Therefore, if this initiative is successful then it is highly likely that it will continue.
Other instruments in Estonia
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