Supporting Latvia’s innovation economy through technology training for SMEs
Tags: workforce development, Community, NGO
01 June 2008
Through its Digital Skills for SMEs program, the Latvia@World project is providing special training for small and medium sized enterprises and enabling entrepreneurs to make use of the latest technologies, thereby enhancing their business skills and overall competitiveness.
A trainee in the Latvia@World project being congratulated on completing the training
Through a network of community technology learning centres, the Latvia@World initiative, coordinated by the Latvian Information Technology and Telecommunications Association (LIKTA), aims to help the Latvian populace learn the ICT skills required to live and work in a knowledge-based economy. Microsoft provides grants, software and training resources to nine centres across Latvia.
The Digital Skills for SMEs programme is a feature of the Latvia@ World project, as Sandis Kolomenskis, Country Manager of Microsoft Latvia, explains: “This project continues the expansion of Microsoft's Unlimited Potential-Community Technology Skills programme. Acquired technology skills will help to provide equal opportunities to everyone and to raise productivity in small and medium enterprises. ICT as a tool is important to every SME in order to keep it up to date and competitive in an ever changing market.”
Planned to launch in 2008, the SME training programme will adapt Microsoft Unlimited Potential curriculum modules to enhance the IT skills of people working in marketing, records management, medicine, tourism, the service sector and construction. As well as teaching core skills on the handling of information such as saving, transmitting and archiving data, the curriculum includes modules on the Internet, text processing, spreadsheets and presentations.
Currently, 273 employers, executives and staff, representing 170 SMEs, have attended initial seminars for the new programme; while pilot programs in two Latvian cities, focusing on doctors and medical workers, have generated very positive feedback and highlighted key areas of IT in which professionals in these sectors are most interested.
Based on this and other feedback, and with the help of dedicated partners, the existing Microsoft UP modules will be extended further. In partnership with Hansa Banka Latvia, a special chapter on SME internet banking (including direct connection to accounting software) will be developed, while a chapter on e-business and e-commerce will be designed in collaboration with the Latvian Ministry of Economy.
Under the SME training scheme, Latvia@World is aiming to train 5,000 individuals across the country. This ambitious goal is supported by the Latvian government, and strategic corporate partners such as Microsoft, which provides important expertise and training to LIKTA.
Currently, 15 Unlimited Potential training centres exist in Latvia, of which 9 receive grants, software and training resources from Microsoft. “As an NGO we do not have enough funds to finance a project of that scale,” says Imants Freiberg, President of LIKTA. “We have developed a very special cooperation with Microsoft Latvia because Microsoft aims to promote a knowledge-based society and so do we.”