BBC has launched an initiative across UK to spawn a digitally aware generation that would be more proficient in coding, programming and digital technology.
The initiative, entitled Make it Digital, intends to address the requirement of 1.4m digital jobs in the next five years. “BBC Make it Digital is hugely exciting and will shine a light on digital creativity like never before,” said Jessica Cecil, the Controller of BBC Make it Digital. “We are proud to partner with an amazing range of fantastic organisations across the UK, which will open the doors to new opportunities in the future,” she added.
BBC has partnered with around 50 organisations, across the UK to amplify the vibrant digital industry.’ Partners include corporations like ARM, Barclays, BT, Google, Microsoft, Samsung and educational institutions and organisations like Apps for Good, British Computing Society, iDEA, Nesta, among many others.
Working with these organisations BBC has created what is called a ‘Micro Bit’ – a small programmable hardware device – to be provided to year 7 children (age 11-12) across UK, one million in total.
The Micro Bit will assist youngsters get acclimatized to more advanced products like Arduino, Galileo, Kano and Raspberry Pi. Still in the pipeline, the device is slated for an autumn release.
5,000 young unemployed people will be made part of the Make it Digital Traineeship to enhance their digital skills and essentially make them job ready.
“A wide-reaching season of Make it Digital content across TV, radio and online will showcase how Britain has helped shape the digital world, raise awareness among mainstream audiences on why digital matters, and inspire younger audiences to have a go and get creative with digital technologies,” reports a BBC news release.
Photo credit: Lars Plougmann / Foter / CC BY-SA
