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Metsola among group of MEPs encouraging computer coding
As ‘coding ambassador’ Roberta Metsola will encourage computer coding and programming skills among young people in Europe
MEP Roberta Metsola with Irish MEP Seán Kelly (third from left), who launched the CoderDojo Ambassador Initiative, and other Coding Ambassadors
Member of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola has joined other MEPs as part of an informal group to encourage computer coding and programming skills among young people across Europe.
Metsola and the other ‘coding ambassadors’ will push for the opening of coding clubs in Malta and Gozo for children as young as seven to come together in a fun environment and under the tutelage of an expert to develop their computer coding skills.
The group was formed as part of the 'CoderDojo' volunteer led initiative that was pioneered in Ireland and has spread across the continent.
The purpose of the CoderDojo movement is to increase child and youth experience and skill with coding and programming. These "dojos" or clubs will provide participants with a social environment to share knowledge and collaborate in learning environment that suits the agile nature of the material they will cover.
As the CoderDojo ambassador for Malta, Metsola underscored the urgent need to address the digital skills gap in Malta and the rest of the EU in order for people to have the necessary skill set to thrive and for Europe's economies to remain competitive in the global market.
"In this day and age, coding is becoming more and more essential. We must do more and I am delighted to form part of this initiative that aims to educate in a fun-learning environment. We need to hone the skills of the next generation and give them the ability to make the most of the technological tools available to them,” she said.
Metsola will facilitate the opening of these coding clubs for youth in Malta and Gozo.
At the first meeting of Coding Ambassadors in the European Parliament, Irish MEP Seán Kelly, who launched the CoderDojo Ambassador Initiative said that he was "delighted to launch this new group and am confident that it will ensure the CoderDojo initiative continues to grow across all 28 EU Member States and beyond by sharing ideas, experiences and best practices. We aim to extend the reach of the Initiative, while at the same time bringing us all closer together as one EU-wide Initiative."
