DigiUp Erasmus Project Being led by College of Agriculture Engineering and Science Academics

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The College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science (CAES) has been awarded an Erasmus-funded project, DigiUp, a 36-month Virtual Exchange initiative.

The project is poised to bridge the digital knowledge gap among Higher Education (HE) students, HE academic staff, and young individuals in youth organisations across Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, and South Africa.

The core objective of DigiUp is to harness the power of virtual connectivity to nurture and enhance both digital and soft skills among participants. By doing so, the aim is to equip them with essential 21st-century skills necessary for thriving in today’s competitive job market and beyond.

Through an array of innovative virtual non-formal education methodologies, Digi Up will place a strong emphasis on the learning aspect of virtual exchanges. The goal is to empower students, using the DIGCOMPEDU and DIGCOMP competence frameworks, with the digital proficiency and interpersonal skills they need to significantly boost their employability.

The ambitious project brings together a consortium of eight partners, spanning South Africa, Tanzania, Greece and Belgium, and a variety of sectors, including youth organisations and universities.

Our collective vision is to interact with 1 000 learners, fostering their growth and development in the realm of digital and soft skills. In an era marked by the rapid integration of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, this initiative is both timely and indispensable.

The training offered through DigiUp is poised to be a game-changer, arming students with the vital digital competencies needed to excel in the ever-evolving job landscape.

Dr Boby Varghese, Head of the Centre for Academic Success in Science and Engineering, and Professor Naven Chetty, College Dean of Teaching and Learning in CAES, are spearheading this project at UKZN. Mrs Devashnee Chinniah, the Principal Administrative Officer in the School of Life Sciences, is also a member of the DigiUp team.

For more information visit https://www.digi-up.org.

Words: Sally Frost

Image: Supplied