UniCredit Foundation

Skool mission is to show the exciting world of technology and coding and allow disadvantaged children to change their life path.

Skool is the flagship project of the Technology in Education Foundation that provides free technology courses for 8-18-year-old girls.

The goal is to increase the technological affinity of the participants and thereby broaden the involvement and employment spectrum.

This is important because nowadays, even though women are users of technology, their approach in the creation of technology is less noticeable due to their lower presence. To provide usable knowledge, they have established partnerships with the leading companies in the technology sector. With the help of partner companies, the programming girls can get acquainted with developers and with women in technology who can help girls choose their career choices.

Skool mission is to show the exciting world of technology and coding and allow disadvantaged children to change their life path.

Skool is the flagship project of the Technology in Education Foundation that provides free technology courses for 8-18-year-old girls.

The goal is to increase the technological affinity of the participants and thereby broaden the involvement and employment spectrum.

This is important because nowadays, even though women are users of technology, their approach in the creation of technology is less noticeable due to their lower presence. To provide usable knowledge, they have established partnerships with the leading companies in the technology sector. With the help of partner companies, the programming girls can get acquainted with developers and with women in technology who can help girls choose their career choices.

The "Skool Skills for a Better Life" programme, selected by UniCredit Foundation through the Call for Education 2023, aimed to enhance access to higher education and employment opportunities for young people living in rural areas, with a particular focus on the technology sector.

The programme targeted high school students aged 15 to 17 from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds in rural Hungary, providing them with essential digital and soft skills to improve their employability. During the first year, the initiative focused on the northern and eastern regions of the country, before expanding to the western and southern regions in the second year.

The programme was structured around two key components:

Digital Life Foundations (digital literacy and the fundamentals of coding and technology);
Soft Skills Foundations (development of transversal and interpersonal skills).

Through these activities, the programme supported students in developing technological competencies and social skills, contributing to improved employment prospects and greater self-confidence.

By involving IT professionals as role models, organising online company visits, and creating an engaging and stimulating learning environment, the programme prepared students for remote work opportunities and facilitated their integration into the labour market.

The initiative also helped bridge the digital divide, reduce prejudice and social barriers, and foster a supportive community atmosphere, promoting greater inclusion and equal opportunities for participating young people.

The "Skool Skills for a Better Life" programme, selected by UniCredit Foundation through the Call for Education 2023, aimed to enhance access to higher education and employment opportunities for young people living in rural areas, with a particular focus on the technology sector.

The programme targeted high school students aged 15 to 17 from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds in rural Hungary, providing them with essential digital and soft skills to improve their employability. During the first year, the initiative focused on the northern and eastern regions of the country, before expanding to the western and southern regions in the second year.

The programme was structured around two key components:

Digital Life Foundations (digital literacy and the fundamentals of coding and technology);
Soft Skills Foundations (development of transversal and interpersonal skills).

Through these activities, the programme supported students in developing technological competencies and social skills, contributing to improved employment prospects and greater self-confidence.

By involving IT professionals as role models, organising online company visits, and creating an engaging and stimulating learning environment, the programme prepared students for remote work opportunities and facilitated their integration into the labour market.

The initiative also helped bridge the digital divide, reduce prejudice and social barriers, and foster a supportive community atmosphere, promoting greater inclusion and equal opportunities for participating young people.

Skool Skills for a Better Life

Objectives and Results

The Skool Skills for a Better Life project successfully concluded after 2.5 years, exceeding its initial objectives by reaching 2,480 students, training 66 teachers, and engaging 18 technology companies. The programme significantly improved students’ digital, programming and employability skills, while strengthening teachers’ capacities and fostering closer collaboration between schools and industry. A key long-term outcome is the development of Guaide, an AI-assisted platform that will make educational content, methodologies and teaching resources accessible to a wider community of teachers, ensuring the sustainability and continued impact of the project beyond the grant period.