Barcelona Activa trains more than 60,000 people in digital skills since 2019

The Barcelona City Council, through Barcelona Activa, has trained more than 60,000 people in digital skills during the 2019-2022 period. Of the total, more than 35,000 have been trained at Cibernàrium; more than 24,000 have participated in programs to promote scientific and technological vocations (STEAM); almost 9,000 in the Cibernàrium antenna network and more than 2,000 in the IT Academy, among others.

40% of the trained students are between 41 and 50 years old and 63% of the total training courses have been completed by women. On the other hand, 65% have university studies, 42% are employed, 27% were unemployed and 35% came from the province of Barcelona. The council has allocated more than 20 million euros between 2019 and the first half of 2022 to deploy this strategy.

In the balance of actions in digital talent training, the city council has especially highlighted the 2,000 people who have passed through the IT Academy, the public programming campus that teaches programming and allows access to qualified jobs with better economic conditions. This academy contributes to generating 11% of IT professionals in Barcelona, complementing those who come from universities, vocational training and others. 82% of students who complete the training find work in less than half a year. Between 2019 and 2022, this academy has experienced a growth of 264% and more than 350 companies have hired its students. Women currently represent up to 40% of the IT Academy's student body.

STEAM vocations among the youngest

On the other hand, 36% of the people trained are primary and secondary school children and young people. The objective has been to promote scientific and technological vocations. In addition, 4,500 teachers have been trained in digital skills so that they can transfer them to the classrooms, reports ACN.

Regarding basic technological training, there is the Cibernàrium Antennas service located in the multimedia spaces of municipal libraries. There are already twenty of these. In this area, it stands out that 57% of the people trained come from the six medium or low-income districts, with the aim of combating territorial gaps and socioeconomic differences.