In today’s rapidly changing digital world, the convergence of technology and education is essential to shaping the workforce of the future.
Recognizing this need, Romanian organization Digital Nation took on the mission of addressing the gap between the country’s vast tech talent pool and basic digital skills that are below the EU average.
Founded in 2013 by technology expert Paul Apostol, Digital Nation is an education initiative that empowers students, teachers and other professionals to gain digital skills that are often overlooked in traditional education.
Digital Nation’s approach is rooted in peer and community learning, promoting a range of programs that cater to people of all ages.
“We have three age groups in our program: students aged 16 to 19, people entering the workforce for the first time aged 19 to 23, and young professionals aged 23 to 32. But over the years, we’ve had some people over 55 who have done extremely well,” Apostol said.
Will you study from home or from the hub?
A key part of the Digital Nation strategy are community hubs strategically placed in different cities. These hubs are designed as innovation incubators where learners, educators and experts can come together to share ideas and collaborate on projects.
“Our hub will serve as a vibrant, innovation-centric space where learners and professionals can come together, collaborate and access a range of resources, including mentors,” Apostol explains.
What sets Digital Nation apart is our commitment to inclusivity – ensuring people of all backgrounds have access to quality education and resources. This focus includes working with individuals in small and mid-sized cities who often face greater challenges in gaining access to educational and career opportunities.
“We don’t want to focus only on big Romanian cities like Bucharest and Cluj. Instead, we plan to open 12 hubs in smaller cities over the next two years, so we can work remotely from our spaces for companies in Bucharest, Berlin, London, and elsewhere. We currently have two hubs confirmed: Brasov and Piatra Neamt,” Apostolu says.
Reinforce learning through events
To further strengthen community engagement, Digital Nation hosts numerous events such as tech festivals and workshops. These events are essential for bringing together a diverse range of people, from students to seasoned professionals, to learn from each other and acquire new skills.
“Once a year we hold a festival that brings together students, or more precisely explorers. This year it will be in Brasov in August. It’s a mix of learning, meeting mentors and having fun. It’s very moving.”
The AI friend you never knew you needed
Digital Nation’s education experience is deeply rooted in community, intrinsic motivation and simplicity of curriculum. In addition to supporting companies and government agencies to offer some programs for free, Digital Nation recently introduced Saro, a motivational AI assistant, to enhance the learning experience.
Saro aims to change the way students learn by addressing the challenge of keeping students interested and engaged in their education amid a clutter of technology and social media. The solution recently received a $700,000 grant from Google.org, adding to an earlier investment of $850,000. The company also invested $150,000 in itself.
An internal survey by Digital Nation revealed that 90% of students wish they had been more actively engaged in their courses. Saro monitors students’ interactions on the learning platform on a daily basis, engaging with them and assessing their motivation levels. This data allows Saro to proactively intervene and prevent students from abandoning their studies for other activities. Additionally, the AI collects valuable data for teachers and mentors, providing insights into each student’s motivation as well as feedback on the quality of instruction and difficulty of the course.
Saro has been tested with groups in Generation Tech courses and has shown promising results: Students who interacted with Saro were 41% more likely to complete their homework compared to students who received traditional email or SMS reminders.
“Saro’s vision is to be a personal learning coach, guiding individuals on their learning journey and providing customized recommendations that support their goals. By providing a personalized learning path, Saro helps learners identify their strengths and areas for improvement so they can reach their full potential,” explains Apostol.
To further improve Saro and support more young students to improve their digital skills, Digital Nation is actively seeking partnerships with universities, schools, companies and public institutions.
“Collaboration with educational institutions is essential to ensure Saro is seamlessly integrated into their existing systems, delivering maximum benefit with minimum disruption,” Paul concludes.
