## Digital Education: E-literacy and Public Infrastructure

Ukraine has earned a strong reputation for its highly skilled tech workforce, a status closely tied to the country's advancements in digital education. As global demand for digital competencies grows, Ukrainian youth are increasingly focused on acquiring the skills necessary to compete in the international labour market. This progress is driven by a wide range of training programs, online courses and other educational initiatives that provide accessible, modern learning opportunities.However, a substantial digital divide persists between different demographic groups, particularly between younger and older generations and between urban and rural populations. Addressing this disparity has been a core objective of the Ministry of Digital Transformation since its establishment in 2019. The Ministry aims to ensure high-speed Internet access for 95% of transport infrastructure and settlements while engaging six million citizens in digital skills development programs.

A critical component of this digital transformation has been the work of Diia.Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Transformation, the Eastern Europe Foundation, and the EGAP program. Together, they conducted comprehensive sociological studies on digital skills in Ukraine in 2019, 2021, and 2023. Notably, the 2019 survey represented the first nationwide sociological study of digital skills in Ukraine’s history, providing essential insights that continue to inform national digital education strategies.According to the survey, 53% of Ukrainians (aged 18 to 70) had digital skills below the basic level, according to the European Commission's methodology, and 15% had no such skills. At the same time, only 47% of Ukrainians were interested in improving their digital skills. There were also significant age differences in digital skills: 66.1% of Ukrainians aged 10-17 had skills at the “above basic” level, while older Ukrainians lagged far behind in digital skills.The 2021 study showed an increase in digital skills. The share of Ukrainians whose digital skills are below the “basic level” decreased by 5.2% or 1.42 million people to 47.8%. The share of Ukrainians with no digital skills decreased by 4% or 1.09 million people.The 2023 survey continued the trend of increasing digital skills. The share of Ukrainians whose digital skills are below the “basic level” decreased by 12.6% compared to 2019 - only 40.4% had a low level of skills compared to 53%, and 59.6% of Ukrainians had at least basic digital literacy. The share of Ukrainians with no digital skills decreased by another 4%, and 93% of Ukrainian adults aged 18-70 had at least a minimum level of skills. Also, since 2019, the desire to develop digital skills has increased by 10.9% to 58.3% of Ukrainians aged 18-70.In January 2020, the Ministry launched the National Platform for Digital Literacy and Digital Skills Diia.Digital Education. In less than three years, the goal of 6 million Ukrainians involved in digital literacy programs was achieved. In May 2023, the next stage in the evolution of the Diia.Digital Education project was implemented—the national educational platform Diia.Education. The goal is to make a breakthrough not only in digital knowledge but also in general skills and abilities relevant to the modern world. Diia.Education is a free and accessible platform of up-to-date knowledge and practical skills in the field of technology that provides them in the format of educational series, simulations, tests to determine digital or entrepreneurial skills and career guidance. On the platform, you can actually learn a new profession, find a relevant job, improve your digital skills, including cybersecurity, and receive certificates as proof of your skills. There are many platforms that provide free online courses or training programs, but most of them are private, not public, and do not have such a comprehensive ecosystem.Digigram is a comprehensive digital literacy test based on European standards. There are also separate digital skills tests for teachers, civil servants, and healthcare professionals. After passing the test, everyone receives an electronic certificate and can improve their digital skills that are at a lower level, which helps to increase work efficiency. Diia.Education promotes the concept of “Lifelong learning” - the continuous acquisition of new knowledge and skills. The modern world is changing rapidly, so we need to constantly learn in order to grow. Another important goal is upskilling and reskilling - improving skills and “changing skills,” i.e. learning and mastering a new profession.As of now, Diia.Education users have access to more than 270 educational products on the platform and more than 5000 offline digital education hubs. In 2024, Diia.Education received a bronze award at the Effie Awards in the Performance Marketing category and was shortlisted for the Emerging Europe Awards 2024 in the Public Sector Digital Transformation category.The project of the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine on the Diia.Education platform, IT-Studios, deserves special attention. IT-Studios are digital educational programs in computer science for students and teachers with a maximum focus on practice and application of skills. The program covers digital literacy, media creativity, programming and data analysis, which are taught through gamification elements, a project-based approach and learning through questions and problem-solving. Since September 2023, every school has had access to IT studio materials.CDTO Campus, a national educational initiative dedicated to preparing CDTOs (Chief Digital Transformation Officers) and their teams - digital leaders embedded within government bodies and local authorities responsible for leading and implementing digital transformation and innovative technological projects within public administration - plays an important role in the government's digital education system. They receive education in GovTech, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence, all tailored to the evolving needs of modern public governance. After completing these courses, continuous training is conducted through the specially designed CDTO Campus app. This app provides a convenient, accessible, and efficient educational experience - the so-called “University in a smartphone” – by providing interactive tasks, simulations of real-world experience, and automated progress tracking.Digital education is accompanied by the digitalization of the educational process in schools in general. The All-Ukrainian School Online platform plays an important role here, and there are high expectations regarding the full launch of the state Mriia application. The All-Ukrainian Online School is a platform for distance and blended learning for students in 5–11 grades and methodological support for teachers. The platform contains video lessons, tests, and materials for individual work in 18 core school subjects (more than 3,500 lessons). Recommendations for teachers have been developed for blended and distance learning using the platform's educational materials. The platform was developed by the NGO Osvitoria and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine during the COVID-19 crisis. The russian full-scale invasion into Ukraine has only emphasized the importance of online education, as many Ukrainian students have lost the ability to physically attend their schools. According to the latest reports, All-Ukrainian Online School has more than 820,000 users from Ukraine and more than 80 countries. The NGO Osvitoria together with the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and War Child Holland have created a mobile application Can't Wait to Learn for students in 1–4 grades. It takes into account age-specific features and allows students to learn math and reading according to the school curriculum playfully. This educational content can be used by students independently in distance learning, as well as by teachers to implement blended learning.The OsvitaNow online platform is important in the context of wartime. This is a free resource for teachers and parents, created in partnership with UNICEF Ukraine and with the support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. The purpose of the platform is to answer all questions about children's education, upbringing and leisure during the war. It is updated weekly and is supplemented with materials on topics such as forms of education, what you need to know about entering universities in Ukraine, salary conditions, and what teachers' vacations are supposed to be like.Osvitoria is also engaged in teacher training, providing teachers with the skills they need to teach during martial law, as this was not taught in teacher training institutions. For this purpose, they opened a new convenient online platform, O.university, where most courses and materials are free. Together with UNICEF, they also created the course “New Ukrainian School: Basic Secondary Education,” which focuses on teachers of grades 5 and 6 but is available to all teachers who want to learn more about education reform and new approaches and tools for working with students.Mriia is the first educational state app that provides tools for organizing the educational process for all its participants: students, teachers, and parents. The uniqueness of Mriia is that it is a fully autonomous integrated system that helps students in all elements of the educational process and extracurricular activities. The app is currently in a pilot launch with 40 schools from six regions of Ukraine and the city of Kyiv. However, next school year the app will be launched for all schools that wish to join. Mriia is completely free of charge for schools. It will have its own educational information system, which will be connected to the state register of the Ministry of Education and Science.Vocational education online is a digital learning platform that provides training courses for students of vocational education institutions and applicants for professional qualifications. During the full-scale russian invasion, enrollment in vocational schools has been gradually increasing. More than 13,000 people, including internally displaced people, veterans, and the unemployed, have been able to get a profession for free. Among significant GovTech tools in education, the following are also worth mentioning:NUMO - a web-based platform for the development of a child aged 3-6 in kindergarten or at home, developed by experts from UNICEF and the Ministry of Education and Science. The site has materials for parents, guardians, and educators to ensure the harmonious development of preschoolers.Book`VAR is an educational platform for virtual and augmented reality. It is an application for studying natural sciences using augmented and virtual reality, which allows visualizing physics experiments while studying in 8-11 grades.AR Book is a platform that allows you to create interactive learning materials, including images, videos, and augmented reality elements. Thanks to virtual and augmented reality, teachers can add more interactive and immersive elements to their lessons. It is also possible to choose an already created lesson that was developed according to the educational program and improve it with the help of 3D models and AR experiments in various subjects.UNIVERA is a mobile application for students that provides an integrated class schedule, university news, a job search platform, and the ability to hold online elections. Since its launch, UNIVERA has more than 15,000 users.Ukraine.Inclusion is a portal with all the necessary information for the inclusion of people with special needs in active social life, including a list of educational institutions with inclusive education and information for parents, guardians, or professionals about education in such conditions. Study in Ukraine – official Ukrainian Government website for international students, managed by the Ukrainian State Center for International Education. It provides information and advice on the entire process of admission, travel, study, and accommodation. Until February 24, 2022, more than 84 thousand foreign citizens were studying in Ukrainian higher education institutions. Most students are from China, India, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Nigeria, Turkey, Turkmenistan, and Georgia. Currently, more than 27 thousand foreign students are studying in Ukraine. Of these, 7,194 entered the university in 2024.STUDYPASS is an electronic document with student information necessary for traveling to Ukraine and studying. STUDYPASS is created using blockchain technology and powerful cryptography to protect students from fake study invitations.The Unified State Electronic Database on Education is an automated system for collecting, certifying, processing, storing and protecting data on providers and recipients of educational services in Ukraine. The data from this database is used to produce state-issued documents on education, academic titles and degrees, licenses to provide educational services and accreditation certificates, and student cards.Applicant's electronic cabinet - a system through which applications for admission to higher and vocational education institutions are submitted and accepted.Unified School is an automated information and communication system designed for educational institutions, students and their parents, and educational authorities. It provides an opportunity to use unified electronic journals and diaries, participate in online lessons, watch videos of these lessons, provide online answers, take tests, etc.The Automated Information Complex of Educational Management software and hardware complex is an electronic education management system for collecting, storing, managing, and using data in the field of education.National Electronic Research and Information System “URIS” is an information and telecommunication system that collects, forms, processes, stores, and uses data and information on the results of professional scientific and technical activities of Ukrainian scientific institutions, higher education institutions, and scientists.E-Journal is a free electronic journal and diary for general secondary education institutions from the Institute of Educational Analytics. Society's digital literacy is an important basis for the country's economic development, advancement of technology business and government technologies, improvement of citizens' living standards, increased accountability of public authorities, prevention of corruption, and enhanced citizen participation in the life of the state. Therefore, raising the level of digital skills is an important aspect of the development of modern society.