Accenture continues to prepare young people for the future: over 2,300 children from 102 schools participated in the Digital Skills Academy 2025

Accenture, a global professional services company, has concluded the 5th edition of the Digital Skills Academy program, held between January and June 2025, with the support of Teach for Romania and Roma Education Fund Romania. This year, over 2,300 students aged 8 to 14, from 102 schools in vulnerable communities across the country, participated in courses supported by 180 Accenture volunteers.

The program included essential topics for developing digital skills, from internet safety and programming elements in Scratch, to working with applications such as Word, PowerPoint and email. As a novelty, modules dedicated to Generative Artificial Intelligence, deepfakes and online disinformation were introduced, which helped children better understand how technology works and how they can recognize risks in the digital environment.

Accenture donated 156 laptops to support the learning process in participating schools. In addition, employees’ children – the so-called MiniMes – joined the volunteers in delivering lessons, either in their own schools, in Accenture offices or in schools in vulnerable communities.

“The Digital Skills Academy shows us how essential digital education is for our young people. In each session, from basic computer components to new modules on artificial intelligence and deepfakes, we see how children become familiar with the technology that will shape their future. Moreover, the digitalization of schools and the involvement of our MiniMes bring a practical and inspirational touch, demonstrating that innovation can be accessible and relevant to every student,” said Aliona Hlusov, the initiator and coordinator of the Digital Skills Academy program at Accenture.

As part of the Digital Skills Academy Olympiad, children developed over 100 projects under the theme “Good Ideas for My Community.” The winning projects will be presented to local authorities or school principals and can be transformed into real initiatives, with the support of Accenture and partner NGOs. For participating in the program, all students were rewarded with diplomas, school bags and badges, and the winners of the Olympiad received trophies and medals.

“In vulnerable schools, digital skills are a necessity and this has been demonstrated to us since 5 years ago, when we started the partnership with Accenture Romania. Through the Digital Skills Academy project, students from Teach for Romania communities had the opportunity to learn from specialists how to be safe online, how to recognize fake news or fraud attempts, but also how to use technology with meaning and confidence. Because quality digital education can change destinies,” said Mara Niculescu, Communication and Advocacy Director, Teach for Romania.

The program also included students from Roma communities, through collaboration with Roma Education Fund Romania, contributing to expanding access to digital education for all.

“Teaching the Digital Skills Academy courses to Roma children at Beica de Jos Middle School was a joyful experience. From shyness to enthusiasm, the children explored technology with great curiosity. Each lesson became an adventure,” says Mădălina Drujit, Accenture volunteer, Timișoara.

“I taught the lessons about Artificial Intelligence and internet safety with my two children. The students at Liviu Rebreanu schools in Cluj-Napoca and Gheorghe Șincai in Florești were fascinated. Some said: ‘How good it would be if these lessons were in the school curriculum!’” adds Irina Ungurean, Accenture volunteer, Cluj.

Accenture plans to continue the program next year, with the aim of reaching even more schools and providing access to digital education in communities where it is still limited.

Since its launch in 2020, the Digital Skills Academy program has reached over 5,000 students from 250 schools in Romania, through the exceptional involvement of 494 Accenture volunteers and the two partner NGOs – Teach for Romania and Roma Education Fund.