Microsoft and ReGeneration presented the first results of their strategic cooperation on youth training in digital skills, and recent graduate integration in the labor market
The important role of Skilling in the country’s economic recovery, and the shaping of a culture of competitiveness through the training of young people was highlighted by the event jointly organized by Microsoft Hellas and ReGeneration (the largest training and employment program for young graduates in Greece), through the DigiYouth initiative.
During an online event, Microsoft presented the company’s global vision for digital training aimed at reintegrating people into the labor market following the upheaval and changes brought about by the pandemic in a variety of industries , as well as local actions and the account of those already completed. through collaboration with ReGeneration .
Through GR for GRowth, Microsoft committed to train 100,000 students and professionals in the public and private sectors with the ultimate purpose to transform public and private organizations within the next five years.
CEO of Microsoft Hellas, Cyprus and Malta, Theodosis Michalopoulos, characteristically said: “Greece has started writing her own digital story, in which the development of human capital will be a catalyst for progress, innovation, and developments in the economy. Investing in the digital skills of young people is a sine qua non condition for opening exciting new chapters in the future of the country.”
ReGeneration Co-Founder Panos Madamopoulos stressed: “In a country with an economy traditionally based on the tertiary sector, it is necessary today more than ever to create infrastructure that will facilitate the transition to a productive model that unlocks sustainable development in the conditions of the 4th Industrial Revolution. At ReGeneration, we recognize that such a complex challenge can only be addressed through strategic partnerships that invest in skills development, link higher education with the labor market, create social mobility and significantly contribute to the introduction of human resources into the labor market, thus contributing to the sustainable development modern conditions demand.”
ReGeneration DiGiYouth Initiative powered by Microsoft
DiGiYouth began in 2020 with the goal to provide new skill (up/re skilling) development opportunities to young graduates, supporting them in taking their first professional steps by placing them in key positions in the Greek labor market through ReGeneration’s network of 1,300 collaborating companies.
The first part of the initiative included two Academies with 50 participants:
- ReGeneration Academy on Cloud Tools & Technology powered by Microsoft
The first Academy offered each participant 240 hours of hands-on training in basic and more advanced principles on Cloud Tools & Technologies, which specifically focuses on developing applications and Web solutions with Microsoft Azure.
Our first graduates enter the labor market!
Twelve of our program participants have already been placed in jobs, while our recruitment process moves forward dynamically.
- ReGeneration Academy on Big Data & Artificial Intelligence powered by Microsoft
Launched in January 2021 and in progress now, this Academy’s participants are being trained in innovative and sought-after areas of technology, and will be ready to access ReGeneration’s network of companies in April. It is an intensive 180-hour hands-on training program for basic and advanced data science and artificial intelligence principles, and more specifically, the use of Data Science, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence in Azure.
The second part of the initiative (DiGiYouth Initiative II), will include three Academies for 100 participants:
- ReGeneration Academy 4Women in Tech | Project Management powered by Microsoft
This is the first Academy for young women that connects hands-on training in tech-related project management with jobs in sought-after technology sectors! The Academy is in progress, as 35 participants have just started their 120- hour hands-on training, while in May, they will be ready to access ReGeneration’s network of companies.
- ReGeneration Academy on Cloud Tools & Technology powered by Microsoft and
- ReGeneration Academy on Big Data & Artificial Intelligence powered by Microsoft
The Academies’ success leads to their continuation in September 2021.
DiGiYouth I & II
By the completion of the DiGiYouth I & II Academies, a total of 150 young men and women are expected to have benefited, having received some 32,000 hours of training in digital and soft skills by the end of 2021, meanwhile, 4,000 ReGeneration program graduates will have gained free access to online courses and tools on the platforms of MS Learn, LinkedIn Learning, and GitHub, through the Microsoft Global Skills Initiative.
The next steps
The very successful collaboration on the ReGeneration DiGiYouth Initiative I & II powered Microsoft has inspired the design of The ReGeneration Initiative: Upskilling Greek Youth for the Digital Era powered by Microsoft – a new, more enhanced up/reskilling program for young graduates, which focuses on the sought-after digital skills necessary for the future of work. The program is expected to benefit 1,000 young graduates through 20,000 hours of training in soft and digital skills (e.g. office automation, mobile apps, information systems, data visualization, cloud technologies, digital marketing, UI/UX, etc.) and access to ReGeneration’s network of over 1,300 company collaborators in Greece.
About Microsoft
Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT”), founded in 1975, is the world’s leading software, services and technology solutions company. All Microsoft® products are designed to enhance your personal and business capabilities. Information about Microsoft can be found at: https://www.microsoft.com/el-gr
Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries. Other product and service names are trademarks of their respective companies. The data contained in this document is for informational purposes only.
About ReGeneration
With a vision to democratize post-university education and career opportunities for young graduates in our country, ReGeneration is the largest employment and training program in Greece. An initiative of the Global Shapers Athens Hub and World Economic Forum, ReGeneration was created with the goal of contributing to youth employment, bridging the skills gap, and combating “brain drain.” The program addresses talented young graduates (up to 29 years old) in a range of specialties with 0 – 3 years of work experience, who strive to stand out as young professionals in Greece. ReGeneration offers participants 6 months (minimum) paid employment at multinational companies and SMEs in Greece, and 32 hours of training with a focus on personal and professional development, as well as mentoring opportunities with renowned market executives. In addition, ReGeneration Academy has offered some 510,000 hours of new skills training in the latest technologies and industries facing a lack of professional talent (ie. Digital Marketing, Data Science, AI, Coding, Supply Chain, Hospitality, AgriFood, Customer Experience). As part of the program, participants also complete 25 volunteer hours supporting select NGOs, amounting to some 17,500 total volunteer hours thus far. To date, ReGeneration has placed over 2,000 young graduates in roles at over 800 participating companies nationwide, and has, through its various programs, offered 440,000 hours of training in soft and digital skills. In addition, some 92% of participants’ contracts are extended beyond the 6-month minimum paid employment, while it is estimated that salaries of young graduates placed through the ReGeneration program thus far have amounted to some 15 million euros.
ReGeneration is a non-profit program supported by: Coca-Cola, The Coca-Cola Foundation, The Hellenic Initiative and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation. Select partners offering necessary services, know-how and resources to the program include: Arctic Shores, ethelon, Job-Pairs, Mindshare, OTE Academy and RSM Greece.
For more information about ReGeneration, each program, and the conditions of participation, visit www.regeneration.gr.
You can follow ReGeneration on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
Eugenia Bozou
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