Hundreds of participants from the country and abroad, from academia, innovation and the field of creative industries gathered on Friday 8 December 2023 for the eighth edition of the International Digital Skills for Culture & Creative Industries Workshop. National and international experts (from the USA, Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Romania), students and experts demonstrated through practical examples the impact that digital skills can have in culture, creative industries, education and how they can stimulate innovation.

The Polytechnic University of Timisoara hosted on Friday the eighth edition of the workshop Digital Skills for Culture & Creative Industries Workshop - a key event of the international collaboration of Politehnica University Timisoara with actors from the technical, digital and cultural environment, being integrated within the cultural project Spotlight Heritage Timisoara. In collaboration with the Department of ID/IFR and Digital Education, the Multimedia Centre, the E³UDRES² Alliance of European Universities, the National Museum of Banat, the EBSI-NE Project and IEEE Romania, the workshop was a real opportunity for participants to exchange ideas and present the latest innovations in the digital world.

Participants, including experts from the USA, Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Romania, along with students, were dedicated to presenting and debating topics of vital importance to today's digital industry. The event took place both physically, in the Conference Centre of the Polytechnic University of Timisoara, with 50 participants, and online, with simultaneous broadcasting on Zoom and Facebook, where more than 750 people attended.

Exploring digital competences in the cultural and creative field

The theme of the event was Digital Skills for Culture & Creative Industries Workshop, integrated in Spotlight Heritage Timisoara, the event is divided into two main components. 

The first part consisted of a public EBSI-NE demystification seminar, where the expansion of EBSI nodes and the Digital Europe Programme (DEP) were discussed, highlighting the support provided by the vital European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI). This part included the following presentations: 

• Prof. univ. Dr. Ing. Radu Vasiu & Dr. Ing. Diana Andone, Polytechnic University of Timisoara, Dr. Carmen Holotescu, "Ioan Slavici" University of Timisoara - EBSI-NE: European Blockchain Service Infrastructure - Extending nodes. Project overview and UPT role / ENSI-NE: European Blockchain Services Infrastructure - Nodes Expansion.
• Cosmin CioranuUEFISCDI - EBSI-NE: Support services and Competences Centers / EBSI-NE: Support services and Competences Centers
• Ș.l. Dr. eng. Andrei Ternauciuc, drd. Ing. Victor Holotescu, Polytechnic University of Timisoara - How Verifiable Credentials on EBSI enhance Education and Digital Skills / How Verifiable Credentials on EBSI enhance Education and Digital Skills
• Lluís Alfons Ariño Martín, Universitat Rovira I Virgili, Spain (online) - Update on EBSI clusters for education, and other sectors / Update on EBSI clusters for education, and other sectors
• drd. Ing. Victor Holotescu, Polytechnic University of Timisoara - Collection of the Spotlight Heritage Timisoara NFTs / Collection of the Spotlight Heritage Timisoara NFTs

In the second part, attention turned to Digital Competences for Culture and Creative Industries. This section has brought together key players in culture, education, innovation and the creative industries, providing a platform for collaboration and dialogue that is essential for the continued evolution of the field.

• Prof. univ. Dr. Ing. Radu Vasiu, Polytechnic University of Timisoara - Involvement E³UDRES² in the development of digital skills / Involvement of E³UDRES² in the development of digital skills
• Prof. dr. eng. Cristian-Győző Haba, Technical University "Gh.Asachi" Iasi (online) - IEEE Education in Romania / IEEE Education in Romania
• Dr. Ing. Diana Andone, Polytechnic University of Timisoara - Using Generative Artificial intelligence for education and creative industries. / Using Generative Artificial intelligence for education and creative industries.
• Prof. Rune AndersenUniversity of Agder, Norway - e-Sports in academia - education for the workforce of tomorrow / Academic esports - education for the workforce of tomorrow
• Ass.-Prof. Chiara Zuani, University of Graz, Austria (online) - Digital Competences in Museums: from engagement to sustainability / Digital Competences in Museums: from engagement to sustainability
• Arnold Pears, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden (online) - Generative AI skills for future professionals / Competențe generative de intelligencia artificială pentru futuros profesionales
• Prof. Markus SeidlFachhochschule St. Pölten GmbH, Austria (online) - Digital Culture / Digital culture
• Sarah Bosch, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, Netherlands (online) - Media & learning: Digital competence and the use of innovative learning methods in higher education / Media & learning: Digital competence and the use of innovative learning methods in higher education
• Dimitra Vinatsella, University of Piraeus, Greece (online) - Open Digital Competences for Education - the Online Courses / Open Digital Competences for Education - the Online Courses
• drd. Ing. Marius Tătaru & Emilian Porumb, Polytechnic University of Timisoara - Spotlight Heritage VR and MR apps / Spotlight Heritage VR and MR apps
• Giulia Vigo, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy (online) - Digital Culture and Spotlight Heritage / Digital Culture and Spotlight Heritage Experiences
• Sonja Schachinger - Producer, curator and mediator in art and science, BioArt Revolution, Austria - Artworks in Digital Materials / Artworks in Digital Materials
• Oana Romocea, Romanian Science Festival, BioArt Revolution, Romania - Romanian Science Festival: Digital Competencies in STEM education / Romanian Science Festival: Digital Competencies in STEM education
• Mirela Stoeac Vlăduți, MV Sci-Art, Romania - MV Sci-Art actions
• Prof. Mark Frydenberg, Bentley University, USA (online) - How teachers use Metaverse and AI / How teachers use Metaverse and AI

The workshop also included case studies on the impact of digitisation on education and culture, with examples from Timisoara and Europe, as well as studies on initiatives and projects that can shape the education of the future. Examples of good practice include the EBSI-NE, OpenDigCompEdu, E³UDRES² and Heritage under the spotlight/Spotlight Heritage Timișoara projects.

Attendance was free, presentations were held in both Romanian and English and participants received Digital Skills for Education & Innovation Participant Open Badges for online participation and in addition, Certificates of Participation for participants in the room.

All workshops are integrated with activities and quizzes in UPT's free online course platform, UniCampus, at https://unicampus.ro/ and can be taken by anyone, with a certificate of completion awarded at the end.

Registration for the event as well as further information about the topics and presenters are available by visiting:  https://elearning.upt.ro/ro/event/workshop-digital-skills-2023/ 

Spotlight Heritage Timișoara / Patrimoniul sub reflectoare is a digital cultural initiative of the Politehnica University of Timișoara realized in partnership with the National Museum of Banat, part of the Cultural Programme Timișoara 2023 European Capital of Culture. Cultural project co-financed by the Center for Projects of the Municipality of Timișoara, Timiș County Council, Ministry of Culture, Romania, EEA and Norway Grants.