On Tuesday 25 November, the DigiEduHack 2025 Main Stage — a flagship event for digital education in Europe took place in Brussels.
Pia Ahrenkilde Hansen from the European Commission opened the stage stressing that critical thinking is foundational to a safe digital future. She linked digital agency with the ability to make informed choices — a right every learner must be empowered. Her remarks tied digital literacy with sustainability, wellbeing, and the EU’s Union of skills.
Saskia Van Uffelen, a leading voice on workforce transformation, warned of the disconnect between education systems and market realities. For instance, 44% of Belgians (16-74) lack basic digital skills. She challenged the audience to think beyond technical skills, highlighting the importance of transversal skills in particular for cybersecurity, wellbeing, and inclusive design. She presented four domains of AI use in the workforce urging urgent upskilling and structural change.
The panel on bridging education and the labour market underscored how formal education must evolve. Speakers from Business Europe, IEA, and All Digital emphasized the need for industry-education cooperation, future-proof curricula, and digital inclusion strategies, especially for youth still struggling with basic digital competencies.
In the Learning by Hacking panel, hackathons were spotlighted as powerful, hands-on learning environments. From curriculum innovation to STEM promotion, these formats show how co-creation, peer learning, and play can drive real-world skill building.
Furthermore, attendees witnessed in-person and video testimonials from the youth participants of the DigiEduHack hackathons across the world, reflecting on their projects and the impact of the initiative on their learning journey.
Francesca Maltauro closed the event by reinforcing the role of appreciative understanding — leveraging our diverse strengths to foster curiosity, collaboration, and digital agency across Europe’s learning ecosystems.
Key takeaway? The digital transition isn’t really about tools — it’s about people, inclusion, and bold reimagination and curiosity for learning in a fast-changing world.
Learn more: https://digieduhack.com/