The objective of smartAInnovators project was to promote the acquisition of advanced digital skills, including AI and Unity Game Development, in VET schools to meet labor market demands. The specific objectives were to: 1. Empower young people with digital literacy to enhance their resistance to excessive online use and addictive gambling through AI demonstrations predicting lucky games. 2. Make VET more attractive by aligning curricula with labor market needs, thereby addressing the digital transformation demands. 3. Foster social innovation and sustainable change through digital upskilling of the younger generation. 4. Equip young people with targeted digital skills and knowledge to understand and resist gambling addiction. 5. Introduce fundamental AI knowledge to both VET trainers and young people. 6. Develop new AI learning and teaching resources, along with Unity Game Development materials, to enrich schools' offerings. 7. Provide young people with opportunities to acquire digital skills using the Unity Engine, boosting their creativity, innovation, problem-solving, teamwork and leadership.
Rapid digitalisation over the past decade has revolutionised many aspects of work and everyday life. Driven by innovation and technological evolution, digital transformation has transformed society, the labour market and the future of work, inevitably affecting education and training (E&T). Furthermore, the enhancement of digital skills has so far not been sufficiently mainstreamed into the society. In all consortium countries, partners conducted an in-depth mapping of the current scene to define a methodological framework and created a guide to AI-powered digital transformation in European schools, as well as National and International Hackathons were implemented. It emerged that digital skills are increasingly required by employers in the sector, but are poorly represented and often neglected in curricula. There was also a lack of methodological guidance, educational resources and tools to integrate these skills into curricula. Mentioned activities equipped future workers and jobseekers with good VET practices and curricula, and strengthened young people's digital competences to enhence their resistance to excessive online use.