Safe Digitalization by Increasing the Digital Skills and Digital Literacy of Adults in a Globalizing World.

<< Background >>With the participation of Avcılar District Governorship, IBERIKA,SINTAGMI,and ULE in the project, the application was inspired by the crucial demand on the digital literacy gap specifically among adults aged 50 and up who were frequently ineffective in using digital platforms. The added value of being a heterogeneous partnership is having very different perspectives and target groups which leads to mediation and homogenization have produced enrichment for all the partners. Assuming that participants could be defined as Generation X, they may often struggle with navigating digital platforms. Besides, the COVID-19 epidemic emphasized the paramount importance of digital skills for acquiring educational, career and social potential outcomes.This project intended to address these gaps that people may deter from using digital platforms. Hence, this project was initiated to provide Generation X with critical digital skills enhancing their approach to cyber risk and reducing the digital gap. It addressed the requirements identified in the European Digital Action Plan and the EU’s Regional Policy priorities for 2021-2027, including the focal point of digital transformation and social inclusion.<< Objectives >>This project aimed to increase digital skills and literacy for adults, specifically those living in confined and rural areas related to the growing demand for digital integration in society. Considering that 43 % of Europe’s adult population was deprived of fundamental computer skills, this project aimed to guarantee that adults could fully engage in a digitalized environment. Assuming that Generation X needed to be exposed to these technological advancements in their daily lives, the purpose of this project was to enable adults to use digital technologies more efficiently and raise awareness of the hazards connected with digitalization including cyber threats. In order to reduce anxiety related to using new opportunities in the digital age since these adults may feel overwhelmed or intimidated by technology, Industry 4.0, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things were involved in the process of promoting digital literacy by creating concrete objectives. The project also aimed to correspond with the goals of the EU’s Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027), advocating adult and organizational digital transformation. << Implementation >>The two important activities of the project were to develop a scale and to prepare a training program based on needs by applying the scale to adults.The main topics covered were Digital Competencies, Health and Safety, Integrity, Equity, Inclusion, and New Trends. A key task was developing a Digital Competency Scale to assess adults’ digital abilities, especially for those over 50. This scale was tested by a representative sample, helping to identify gaps in digital literacy and guide further training efforts.Another crucial task was the creation of a Digital Skills Training Program, based on data analysis from the competency scale. Participants from several partners worked together to design a program focused on digital security, online literacy, and social media use, aimed at improving digital capabilities for disadvantaged groups. The program was made accessible on digital platforms, ensuring broad availability. ULE assisted with the visual design, and final documentation was uploaded for wider use, supporting institutional and educational development. (https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1-002p-_SfpYUFx_ERaFWZ4sjWo07sn4k)<< Results >>The project provided crucial results, primarily through the obtained Digital Competency Scale that illustrated the specific digital abilities gap among adults. This scale was freely available on digital platforms allowing researchers and instructors to use it in their work.(https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/1ADutxukSxT2cjOMvKqqZvJBZWa4B8aYi). Furthermore, a specialized digital skills training program was provided based on the scale’s findings to give opportunities for adults to improve their digital capabilities themselves or with the help of experts. (https://adusafedigi.wordpress.com/scales/). The training program concentrated on critical topics like digital security, web literacy, and social media use, assisting individuals with the necessary skills to properly proceed through the digital realm. As a result, participants enhanced their digital competence, helping them to avoid potentially unpleasant situations and provide overall digital security. This extensive approach was intended to increase digital awareness and digital literacy among adults especially enabling more autonomous and educated people in a rapidly changing digital world.