Abstract:

The development of digital skills is one of the key priorities of the new Skills Agenda for Europe adopted by the European Commission in 2016. Digital skills acquisition is encouraged in schools and higher education, across economic sectors, and for almost all types of professionals. Open and distance learning, which have been constantly evolving over the last decades, present new opportunities in formal and non-formal education systems. Massive Open Online Courses have been one of the most innovative movements in this field, as they create new opportunities for lifelong learning, related to high-quality education at no cost, beyond time zones and physical boundaries. In this paper, will be analyzed the methodology followed in the design and development of training courses for professionals in cultural heritage. Building on the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on both the education and the cultural and creative sectors, strategic complementarities can be developed. Both sectors experienced accelerated digitalisation, which brings new opportunities for local and regional development but also risks of exacerbating inequalities without accompanying measures. Such accompanying measures include the development of methodologies and technological solutions for distance and distributed learning with digitally mediated access to cultural resources and experiences. Online tools can facilitate the professional networking and recruitment in Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI). The digital transformation of vocational education and training, requires the updating of the curricula related to the development of skills by trainees as well as the development of specialized digital skills for their integration into the labor market of the digital economy.

Keywords:

Methodology, online courses, pandemic, training, digital skills, cultural heritage, professionals.