Digital skills benefits are playing transformation role in most of the industries at present. From journalism, business and entrepreneurship to education the technology revolution is demanding skills identifying and education.

Google’s Scaled Digital Skills Related Initiatives

By far the most prioritized initiative Google has been running on a scale is the Digital News Innovation Fund. It is working through open source and sharing knowledge and its basic themes of impact are:

• Battling misinformation
• Telling local stories
• Boosting digital revenues
• Exploring new technologies

Digital News Innovation Fund Report showcases projects making a difference in the news industry. You can download the full Report and of the projects that have been supported by the DNI Fund: total funding of EUR 94m for 461 projects coming from 29 European countries.

“One of the Digital News Innovation Fund’s biggest impacts is the change in mindset”
says Rosalia Lloret external Fund Council member and Head of Institutional and Public Relations at Online Publishers Association Europe.

Google isn’t limiting the change of mindset impact of their initiatives to just one occupation, regardless of how influential the media presence and their online activity can be. To prove that everyone can grow and benefit from the technology revolution Google is running  Digital Garage [Tweet “Get new skills for a digital world”]

Why was Google Digital Garage Created in the First Place?

Here is what the answer from Help and F&A explains:

“When people learn to make the most of the web, it’s amazing how much individuals, businesses, and whole economies can grow. We want everyone to have the digital skills they need to benefit from the technology revolution and share in that growth — including you.”

In Bulgaria, Google Digital Garage has been organized with SoftUni and in partnership with The Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.  Here is what Eli Draganova, Project Manager shares:

“We are organizing free digital training in over 37 cities in Bulgaria. The project launched on May 14th, 2018. Our twelve specially trained Google consultants will conduct free seminars and individual training focused on the opportunities that the digital world offers to small and medium-sized companies as well as everyone who wants to enrich their digital skills in the use of online tools for growth.  Our aim is to train 15,000 people from the small and medium businesses by the end of the year. Be welcome to register! The towns on our list to visit are Plovdiv, Pleven, Asenovgrad, Pazardjik, Lovech, Troyan, Botevgrad, Pravets, Vratsa, Blagoevgrad, Montana, Varna, Byala Slatina, Sandanski, Petrich, Kyustendil, Ihtiman, Vidin, Kozloduys, Lom, Veliko Tarnovo, Dupnitsa, Samokov”

Digital Skills Benefits Unique Learning  

I’ve met my colleague Nicky Krastev, Digital Marketing and SEO Expert to ask him a few questions about his insights related to Google Digital Garage Program. Nicky Krastev has extensive experience of 15 years in advertising and marketing and he is in Marketing online for 10 years already. While he himself is leading educational seminars and training, his feedback about Google’s Digital Garage program is eye-opening for the organizational structure and approach of the courses, which he defines as unique.

To complete the 120 lessons from the program, one can move at their own rhythm and get ready in a few months or be going through the lesson by lesson – in two or three days. For just covering the tests it takes five to four hours.

“Training Expertise and Google Digital Garage” interview with Nicky Krastev

I’ve written about Trend 2018 Education About Leadership Skills focusing on lifetime learning and personal professional development.