Summer learning with the Interoperable Europe Academy: discover the interoperability foundation learning path
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Does summer finally give you the time to dive deeper into the subject of interoperability? Or would you like to refresh your memory on the subject? Don’t wait any longer and discover the Interoperable Europe Academy’s learning path on the foundation of interoperability.
The Interoperability Foundation learning path is a three-part collection of free online courses that enables you to acquire the fundamental knowledge and skills in the field of interoperability in the European Union and the public sector across the EU. Each course takes approximately 30 minutes to complete.
The first course “Introduction to Interoperability” provides a solid understanding of interoperability in the public sector, why it matters for Europe’s public sector, and what the current initiatives of the European Commission are to make it happen.
The second course introduces you to the European Interoperability Framework (EIF). This framework is a set of guidelines and recommendations developed by the European Commission that Member States and public administrations can use to develop integrated digital public services.
The third course introduces the Interoperable Europe Act and explains the EU policy that facilitates seamless data flows and cooperation among public administrations across different administrative levels and sectors, to support the digital transformation of Europe's public sector and the creation of trans-European digital public services.
The tree pillars for understanding interoperability
Project manager Alina-Maria Brebenel, who is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Interoperable Europe Academy, explains why these three courses are central to the Academy. To her, the courses are the ‘trifecta’ when it comes to understanding interoperability.
“The ‘Introduction to Interoperability’ was the first course ever launched with the Interoperable Europe Academy. This happened in 2019, when the Academy was still the Interoperability Academy. So, it is our flagship course in the sense that it is still relevant today. The course on the European Interoperability Framework was the second one. The EIF is a framework that was, for a long time, the main reference point for European interoperability, but for many years it remained a recommendation.”
With the entry into force of the Interoperable Europe Act, it might seem that that the course on the EIF has become less important. However, Mrs. Brebenel states that, “..while the emphasis has shifted a bit”, the course on the EIF is still an equal pillar on interoperability in the EU to the two other courses. “The EIF is still a reference point for interoperability and it's still the framework that continues to guide the implementation of cross-border interoperability.”
According to Mrs. Brebenel, the launch of the course on the Interoperable Europe Act was also remarkable. “The course was launched very quickly after the Act’s entry into force, and before this milestone, the Act kept changing. So, it's not a small feat that the course was ready when it was.”
Even experts sometimes go back to the basics
While all three courses are introductions to interoperability, Mrs. Brebenel firmly holds the conviction that the courses are not just meant for novices in interoperability but equally for experienced professionals who might need to go back to basics from time to time.
“It's a bit like revisiting English grammar. Even fluent speakers sometimes go back to the basics to refresh their knowledge. Interoperability is no different.”
Furthermore, Mrs. Brebenel points out that interoperability is an interdisciplinary subject. “I think it's high time we treat interoperability as such when we talk about digital public services,” she argues.
“You may work in waste management, energy or another policy area, but still rely on digital public services. You might need to provide a digital public service or be the owner of a base register who needs to provide data for a digital public service, or your digital public service needs to meet more user-centric requirements. In all these cases, there's always a European interoperability component that might apply, no matter what. So, the courses not only help you implement the interoperable Europe Act, they may support your work in ways you might not initially expect.”