Cyprus enhances digital skills of adults through national upskilling initiative

Funded by the EU Recovery and Resilience Mechanism under Cyprus’ recovery and resilience plan, the project runs from March 2022 to December 2025 and offers digital skills training for free to citizens across all districts, including remote and mountainous areas. The objective is to increase digital literacy, promote the safe use of technology, and enhance individuals’ participation in both digitally enabled society and economy. The project comprises four main training pillars:

• Digital skills for 55+. Tailored for older people, this 30-hour programme covers topics such as mobile phone and computer basics, office software, safe online transactions, eGovernment services, financial management using technological tools and digital healthcare tools. By the end of June 2025, over 3 762 individuals aged 55 and over had participated, exceeding the initial target of 2 800 individuals.
• Digital Skills for All. Open to all age groups, these 18-hour courses address current needs, including artificial intelligence applications, online shop and website management, statistical analysis using Excel, and eGovernment services;
• Digital Skills with ICDL Certification. With a duration of 24 hours, these courses prepare participants for the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) exams, which are offered free of charge. Areas covered include basic and advanced office applications, programming in Python, online marketing, and online collaboration;
• Programmes in remote and mountainous areas. Targeted at residents of non-urban areas, these 30-hour courses ensure equitable access to education in digital skills and include training in core digital skills and online public services.

Between March 2022 and June 2025, 531 programmes were implemented, reaching 6 150 participants, with a strong focus on older people and underserved regions.

Complementary actions include the Speaking Digitally (Μιλώντας ψηφιακά) series. These are short online seminars that cover emerging topics related to digitalisation such as Artificial Intelligence– and the development of educational materials focusing on safe internet use.

This initiative as describe above supports lifelong learning, inclusion in the digital world, and aligns with EU priorities for fostering skills for the digital era. It also reflects Cyprus’s commitment to modernising its adult education framework and enhancing the employability and confidence in using digital technologies of its citizens.

Read more

• Κέντρο Παραγωγικότητας Κύπρου, Ευκαιρίες κατάρτισης στον τομέα της Επαγγελματικής Εκπαίδευσης και Κατάρτισης [Cyprus National Productivity Centre, training opportunities in the field of Vocational Education and training].