Strengthening communities through inclusive digital transformation – Inclusive Digital Europe Conference

Europe is entering a decisive stage in its digital transformation. While digitalisation brings new opportunities for education, innovation, and participation, it also risks deepening divides between urban and rural areas. Many rural communities continue to face barriers — from limited infrastructure and connectivity to lack of tailored digital education and skills training. These gaps not only affect access to services and opportunities but also challenge social cohesion and equal participation in the digital decade.

The Inclusive Digital Europe Conference responds to this challenge by creating a space for dialogue between educators, policymakers, local authorities, civil society organisations, and community leaders. The conference highlights how digital skills and inclusive strategies can empower rural communities, reduce inequalities, and ensure that no one is left behind in Europe’s digital future.

Drawing on experiences and practices from across Europe, the event will showcase how local actors co-create digital education solutions, adapt tools to rural needs, and strengthen the role of communities in shaping inclusive digital policies. Through plenary talks, a policy panel, and interactive roundtables, participants will explore practical pathways to bridge the urban–rural digital divide and build a more cohesive and resilient Europe.

This conference also serves as the final milestone of a Europe-wide initiative that piloted innovative methods to bring digital education closer to rural areas. By reframing these results within a wider European discussion, the event aims to connect local experiences with EU-level strategies and inspire future collaboration for inclusive digital transformation.

Inclusive Digital Europe Conference

7 November 2025

Maison des Associations Internationales, Rue Washington, 40 B-1050 Brussels, BELGIUM and ONLINE

Agenda

10:00 – 10:10 | Welcome & Opening Remarks

10:10 – 10:25 | Keynote Talk – “The Future of Digital Education in Rural Communities”

• MEP Brando Benifei, EP Working Group on AI Act Implementation – Remotely
• Mr. Csaba BORBOLY, CoR member and rapporteur on the European Skills Agenda

10:25 – 10:55 | Building a Digital Village

• Alberto Biondo, EU Cooperation Department Coordinator, CSC Danilo Dolci ETS
• Giulia D’Annibale, Our Digital Village Coordinator, CSC Danilo Dolci ETS
• Rosabel Martinez Roig, Assistant Professor Doctor, University of Alicante

10:55 – 11:35 | Panel Discussion “What’s Next for Digital Skills in Rural Europe?”

• Ms. Milena Nehapetyan, Digital Transformation Unit, Education Department – Council of Europe
• Anja Fortuna, Program Manager, European Rural Parliament
• Leonie Bultynck, Policy Assistant, Digital Education Unit, European Commission (DG EAC)
• Denys Tkachov, Expert in Digital Transformation in Organizations and Municipalities

11:35 – 11:50 | Break

11:50 – 12:10 | Smart Schooling and Networking: empowering small and rural schools

Christos Bousoulas, European Schoolnet

12:10 – 12:50 | Interactive Roundtables

• Digital Skills for Education & Training, Pierangelo Di Benedetto, Fablab Palermo
• Rural Innovation & Community Empowerment,Hendrik Nahr, Make.org
• Bridging Urban–Rural Divides, Denys Tkachov, University of Limoges
• Future Visions of a Digital Europe, Eszter Hartay, European Center for Not-For

12:50 – 13:00 | Closing Plenary

13:00 – 14:00 | Networking Lunch and Networking Tables

Register here to joing the Final Conference online: https://www.alda-europe.eu/inclusive-digital-europe-conference/

OUR DIGITAL VILLAGE – CO-DESIGNED DIGITAL EDUCATION IN RURAL AREAS è un progetto finanziato dal programma Erasmus + (Azione Chiave 2: Forward-Looking Projects) e ha l’obiettivo di favorire un percorso di autoanalisi comunitaria nelle aree rurali attraverso la Maieutica Reciproca, per individuare i bisogni di chi ci vive e co-creare materiali educativi per il rafforzamento delle competenze digitali e trasversali.

Partner

• Coordinatore: Centro per lo Sviluppo Creativo Danilo Dolci – ETS, Italia
• Fablab, Italia
• die Berater, Austria
• KMOP – SOCIAL ACTION & INNOVATION CENTRE, Grecia
• Danmar Computers, Polonia
• CSI – Center for Social Innovation, Cipro
• ACDC, Romania
• Inova+, Portogallo
• Universidad de Alicante, Spagna
• ALDA, Francia
• ALL DIGITAL, Belgio

Per ulteriori informazioni contatta Giulia D’Annibale, giulia.dannibale@danilodolci.org, o Alberto Biondo, alberto.biondo@danilodolci.org. Visita il sito web https://ourdigitalvillage.erasmus.site/ o seguici su Linkedin.