Serbia
Digital
Serbia
Digital
In 2017, the Serbian government highlighted digital transformation and education as key national priorities for the transition to a knowledge-based economy.
The multidimensional challenge of building people’s skills for this endeavor required addressing it at multiple levels and involving a wide range of stakeholders. One aspect entailed incorporating digital skills and algorithmic thinking into the official education curriculum from an early age. On the other hand, the urgent need for skilled labor in Serbia’s rapidly growing IT sector demanded less formal, intensive education programs. Furthermore, to engage in social life as digital citizens, everyone needs to develop basic digital skills, including the ability to use digital public services, find reliable information, and stay safe online.
UNDP Serbia assisted the Serbian government in planning and executing key initiatives to ensure Serbia’s long-term digital development and economic growth.
To thrive in a rapidly evolving technological landscape, children need a comprehensive digital education integrated into their schooling. They should also develop skills in algorithmic thinking, problem-solving, critical thinking, adaptability, and creative expression.
When the Serbian government made digital subjects compulsory in primary and secondary education in 2017, UNDP and the Petlja Foundation worked together to make this policy a reality by developing digital education materials for all grades, as well as a national-scale training and upskilling program for teachers of these subjects.
Today, the Petlja.org portal offers digital literacy and programming courses that span the official teaching curricula for primary and secondary education, including specialist IT classes in certain high schools. All materials are in Serbian and available for free. Teachers across Serbia rely on these resources to prepare and deliver classes, while many students use them to learn at their own pace, enhance their programming skills, or prepare for competitions. Furthermore, the platform is open to anyone seeking to acquire new programming skills, and the materials can be adapted to other learning environments.
In addition to continually improving online teaching materials, the Petlja Foundation, supported by UNDP, also organizes bootcamps and trainings for students and teachers throughout Serbia.
Learn Moreof schools in Serbia use Petlja’s programming materials
users on the Petlja.org portal
Hands-on projects are the most effective way for children to learn about the STE(A)M disciplines (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics). Equally important is giving them the opportunity to work in creative and interdisciplinary teams. These were the main ideas behind Petlja and UNDP’s STE(A)M Challenge, which aimed to engage high school students in tackling local community problems and devising innovative solutions to address them.
Thirty-five student-teacher teams from across Serbia accepted the challenge, identifying numerous local problems and addressing them using data, technology, and entrepreneurial thinking.
The winning team from Kragujevac, “Not Compote, but Compost,” tackled the issue of large amounts of biodegradable waste in the school yard, transforming it into a valuable product: compost. They developed a roto composter with a web application to manage the compost from bio-waste. This app allows users to monitor the compost’s condition and receive notifications about any irregularities, improving success rate.
Another team, the “EcoBytes,” focused on improving urban air quality. Their solution featured an ecosystem of unicellular algae in a glass receptacle that produces oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide, a product of pollution. The bioreactor, equipped with a solar panel, powers the pump and lamp necessary for its operation.
Experts at a pitching event selected the winning teams, who received mentoring and financial support to bring their ideas to life. These solutions will benefit their local communities and have the potential to be applied elsewhere.
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At the end of 2017, estimates revealed that Serbia’s IT sector lacked more than 15,000 skilled workers to sustain the rapid growth of this key export-focused industry. To address this demand swiftly, the government initiated the National IT Retraining Programme, with UNDP aiding in its design and implementation.
The program was conducted in several rounds, from 2018 to 2022. Each round began with a market analysis, conducted in collaboration with our partners from Infostud, Serbia’s largest job ad portal, to understand the local market’s needs and trends for IT-skilled workers. These insights guided the design of the program, which included technical lectures, hands-on training, and the development of soft skills. The six-month-long training also featured a mandatory internship at local IT companies, offering participants the chance to apply their knowledge and enhance their job prospects.
To attract individuals with no prior IT experience, we launched a communication campaign, particularly targeting women. We also organized large-scale admission testing for over 20,000 candidates per round and provided support for all interested applicants. Simultaneously, we worked with academia, the private sector, and government to enhance the capacities of non-formal training providers. The program was continuously monitored and evolved based on feedback from participants and trainers to better meet their needs. Overall, over 3,000 individuals with no prior IT skills gained basic programming skills through the program, 46% of whom were women.
of applicants in the last round of the program were women
of participants found work within six months from finishing training
How often have you said “later” when your grandparents or parents asked for help with their phones? In Serbia, many older adults still stand in lines at bank counters to collect their pensions and struggle with carrying groceries. Digital banking, online shopping, and connecting with loved ones through digital technologies could significantly ease and brighten their lives.
While “leave no one behind” in digital literacy is easier said than done, it is crucial for building a cohesive digital society that benefits everyone and ensures sustainable long-term growth.
To bridge the digital literacy gap among various population groups in Serbia, the Cabinet of the Prime Minister and line ministries launched the Digital Expedition. This caravan visits a different region of Serbia each month, engaging with local communities and promoting the adoption of digital technologies for everyday life and work while emphasizing online safety.
UNDP has been providing comprehensive support in designing and executing this initiative, ranging from managing the caravan’s logistics to developing and delivering educational hands-on programs, engaging with citizens, and advocating in local media. In collaboration with the Office for IT and e-Government, the Data Protection Commissioner, civil society organizations, and local businesses, we helped citizens learn to use their digital devices, obtain electronic IDs for public services, shop and sell online, find reliable information, and protect personal data. We also organized workshops introducing schoolchildren to STEM disciplines and technologies through building games and robots.
Throughout the engagement, we emphasized including vulnerable groups in the program and ensuring a long-term impact on their digital literacy. For example, we worked with local youth organizations to train some of their members as trainers, who then taught the elderly and people with disabilities in their communities how to use digital technologies in everyday life.
Learn Moretowns visited across Serbia
citizens engaged in the Digital Expedition
Digitally skilled public sector is an essential ingredient of effective policy implementation, service delivery, and the creation of a digital society. To enhance digital skills in the public sector, UNDP collaborated with the Office for IT and e-Government and the National Academy for Public Administration (NAPA) to create practical training courses for civil servants, municipal administration representatives, and public utility workers.
One course targeted civil service data officers and analysts, focusing on public sector data governance, the concept of open data, data visualization, and engaging with a broader data ecosystem to maximize the use of public data for creating new value. Another course was an online, self-paced module on using the Design Thinking methodology for co-creating public services and policies with citizens. In collaboration with the Petlja Foundation, we developed a self-paced online course introducing civil servants to emerging technologies, covering the basics of artificial intelligence, blockchain, robotics, and 3D printing. Finally, a popular course we supported focused on the practical use of generative AI in everyday work.
These programs equipped civil servants with an understanding of how technology works, enabling them to assess its impacts, risks, and benefits for public sector implementation.
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