U2SID - University to society collaborations for inclusive digital transformation in the Western Balkans

The digital transformation must be done in an inclusive and safe manner and for this, the role of universities and their collaboration with civil society, business, policy, and media is of paramount relevance. Digital transformation cannot be safe without awareness raising and capacity building on privacy threats, data protection, and digital literacy, thus leading to overall digital rights. The project proposal’s aim is to foster inclusive digital transformation in the Western Balkans through increased collaboration between universities with other stakeholders such as businesses, policymakers, civil society, and media. The U2SID project supports the development and uptake of digital skills to make the digital transformation as comprehensive and inclusive as possible. The specific objectives of the U2SID project are: To strengthen digital competencies of teachers, students, and professionals through the development of a Digital Literacies Acceleration Programme as a collaborative program among universities on one side and businesses, civil society, local decision-makers, and media on the other; To improve innovative teaching methods through piloting a Digital Transformation Challenge for students as a project-based and solution-oriented learning based on mentoring, coaching and placement at businesses, civil society, local decision-makers, and media; To raise awareness on the importance of inclusive digitalization by including vulnerable target groups in the digitalization process. The U2SID is in line with the Call objectives in Strand 2 for building and strengthening partnerships for transformation in higher education. The project is in line with the aim of the call to contribute to the innovation in higher education to enhance relevance to labor market, regional development, and society by strengthening university to society collaborations and setting up a Digital Literacies Accelerator Programme and Digital Transformation Challenge.