The COVID-19 outbreak has impacted every aspect of our lives and digital skills suddenly in an overnight became a requirement for many. COVID-19 highlighted the critical need for the acquisition of digital skills as every daily routine for millions of people became digital. Physical work became telework, education moved online, and the business sector is trying to use more innovative approaches to survive. The unknown future after the end of COVID-19 outbreak and the possibility of future pandemic situations make the need for digital skills and out-of-the-box thinking more imperative than ever.

In this context DIGITALIS project has the vision to promote the cultivation of digital skills from a young age, focusing on primary education students. By providing a novel pedagogical and methodological framework empowered with new and innovative technology-based approaches and particularly serious gaming, the partnership will address the cultivation of key 21st-century competences including creativity, innovation, teamwork, collaboration, problem-solving, and critical thinking for young students. DIGITALIS project aims via using a combination of in-class assignments and a game-based learning tool to provide young students, aged 8-12 years old, a unique learning experience that will form the basis for outside of the box thinking that can result to future innovative initiatives. Another goal for DIGITALIS project is to address the cultivation of entrepreneurial mindsets from a young age that is considered to be critical to economic growth. Now more than ever there is a need for creative people that can boost the global economy with creative ideas and initiatives. After all, the global pandemic situation constrains the business world to shift to digital to ensure their survival.

Equal important for DIGITALIS project is upgrading the digital skills of teachers. Teachers are the key actors of every education system, shaping the future generations of citizens.

School closure due to COVID-19 forced them to go online posing a great challenge for those with low digital skills that must support hundreds of students. Moreover, the possibility of a future pandemic outbreak that could lead once more to possible lockdown measures highlights the significance of addressing the lack of digital skills of teachers. In this context DIGITALIS project aims to enhance teacher’s digital skills and also equip them with new innovative and digital teaching methods and tools to support digital native students and dynamic, diverse and digital classrooms.

DIGITALIS project is dedicated to primary education starting from the preparation of young students for the world of work, where digital literacy is essential. The innovation of the project stems from the learning methodology that will combine in-class assignments with game-based learning techniques aiming to foster the development of a range of digital competences and also the cultivation of entrepreneurial mindsets. Combining theoretical and practical training will allow the students to connect theory and practice and conquer knowledge. The methodological framework of the project will offer both teachers and students high-quality training and will be implemented in five different European countries Greece, Cyprus, France, Romania, and Spain. Through Open Calls 25 teachers will be selected and be trained in the proposed methodology, acting as ambassadors and implementing the methodology and tools of the project in their classroom. In the long run, the active participation of teachers aims to foster future initiatives using the methodological framework and tools of the project ensuring also its sustainability.