DS4Skills-GO

Deployment of a European Data Space for Skills

The European Union’s transition to a knowledge-based economy has significantly increased the demand for digital skills, particularly in non-ICT occupations. Simultaneously, Europe faces challenges with youth unemployment and a large number of low-skilled individuals. To address these issues, there is a need to enhance digital skills across society, both in workplaces and everyday life.

At the same time, skills-related data, such as job offers or educational information, remains fragmented across various public and private stakeholders. This fragmentation creates barriers for individuals, organisations and policymakers alike. To overcome these challenges, there is a need for an infrastructure that allows data to be securely, ethically, and efficiently shared and accessed. The infrastructure, known as a data space, provides a framework of common rules and tools to privacy-preserving data sharing. 

The DS4Skills-GO project aims to establish a cohesive and interoperable European Skills Data Space while preserving privacy, security, safety, and ethical standards. The project ensures efficient management and quality assurance, establishes robust governance frameworks, maintains data space operations, and focuses on capacity-building, knowledge-sharing, and policy recommendations.

Through practical use cases, the project will deploy the Skills Data Space to address key challenges such as lifelong learning, employee retention, upskilling, reskilling, and research on learning paths. By showcasing the value of the data space, DS4Skills-GO aims to enhance digital skills and support the digital transformation of the European economy. 

CSC’s role in DS4Skills-GO is to lead the development of a use case which aims to match individual skills with higher education programs. Furthermore, CSC contributes to developing a sustainable business model, provides insights for a user helpdesk, and supports knowledge transfer through webinars, meetings, and workshops. CSC will also disseminate project outputs in Finland.