Eight Schools Join the Digital Skills Academy Through Accenture Romania and REF Romania Partnership
BUCHAREST, Romania — The latest edition of the Digital Skills Academy, an Accenture Romania program supported by partners such as the Roma Education Fund Romania, has successfully concluded.
As part of Accenture Romania’s nationwide Digital Skills Academy program, the Roma Education Fund Romania participated in this year’s edition as an implementing partner. Over 250 students from vulnerable communities—many of whom are Roma—took part in digital and soft skills workshops conducted across eight REF-affiliated schools, with the support of dedicated Accenture volunteers.
Over the past four months, children and adolescents across Romania participated in a unique learning journey designed to foster digital creativity, safe online behavior, and an understanding of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence. Participants engaged in hands-on modules ranging from coding and project-based learning to discussions around the ethical implications of AI.
The program was carried out in eight partner schools of REF, spanning both urban and rural regions:
- Beica de Jos Secondary School (Mureș County)
- Tărlungeni Secondary School (Brașov County)
- Brădeni Secondary School (Sibiu County)
- Al. I. Cuza – Podu Iloaiei Secondary School (Iași County)
- Valea Moldovei Secondary School (Suceava County)
- Scărișoara Secondary School (Olt County)
- School No. 31 (Bucharest)
- Pinocchio Center (Bucharest)
Implemented across eight educational institutions, in 13 clases—from Tărlungeni in Brașov County to Podu Iloaiei in Iași—the Digital Skills Academy is built for both scalability and adaptability. Students participate in hands-on modules on topics like safe internet use, digital creativity, and ethical AI. The results? Measurable, says Ștefan Ider, a researcher with REF Romania.
“Teachers consistently noted that the program brought added value to students’ existing knowledge, with many describing all modules as relevant and beneficial. The initiative successfully created an environment where students could discover and develop their digital talents while building essential 21st-century skills.” — Ștefan Ider.
The study also revealed that:
- Students gained confidence and digital fluency, regardless of their academic performance in traditional subjects.
- Modules on online safety and ethical use of AI generated strong engagement and lively discussion.
- Practical tools like Scratch and PowerPoint allowed students to express their creativity and work on real-life challenges.
The program culminated in a Digital Skills Olympiad, a showcase of student projects that reflected not only technical skills but also imagination and self-expression. For many students, tools like Scratch and PowerPoint became not just software, but canvases for creativity. More importantly, the Academy offered an environment where Roma identity and digital literacy could co-exist—not in tension, but in synergy.
A Blueprint for Digital Resilience
The success of the Digital Skills Academy comes at a pivotal time for the Roma Education Fund, as it implements a new strategy centred around digital transformation as a lever for long-term resilience. In an age where access to technology shapes access to opportunity, the REF sees digital fluency as a critical component of social equity. As REF expands its work, this program serves as inspiration. It underscores the need for inclusive, real-world digital education that reaches those most at risk of exclusion.
Accenture Romania and REF have forged a Robust Partnership
The partnership between Roma Education Fund Romania and Accenture Romania officially began in March 2024, with the involvement of children from our One Stop Shop Center, who received digital education through the Digital Skills Academy program.
For Alexandru Bejenaru, a volunteer from Accenture Romania, the experience with the kids was deeply personal. Living with a disability and raising a child on the autism spectrum, Alexandru saw first-hand how supportive learning environments can be life-changing.
“I may not be an AI expert, but I knew I could help. One of the most moving moments was when a young girl gave me a genuine hug at the end—it brought tears to my eyes. Every child deserves this chance—to learn, to be seen, to dream.” — Alexandru Bejenaru, volunteer, Accenture Romania
Digital Skills Academy is one of the programs through which Accenture Romania engages with the communities it is a part of, so that its members can access future careers. Since its launch in 2020, the Digital Skills Academy, developed by Accenture Romania, has reached an impressive 4,950 children from 250 schools across Romania, thanks to the dedication of 491 Accenture volunteers. The program empowers students from marginalized communities with essential 21st-century skills while nurturing their self-confidence, creativity, and long-term engagement in learning.
“In our desire to support children from vulnerable communities and generate a positive and lasting impact, five years ago we initiated the ‘Digital Skills Academy’ volunteer program. It is truly joyful to see how much inspiration and confidence in the future our courses bring to children. We intend to continue this initiative, expanding the program to as many regions as possible and eventually to other countries,” said Aliona Hlusov, Founder and Coordinator for Digital Skills Academy at Accenture Romania.
