The digital gap remains a challenge in many rural areas, where technology advances at a different pace than in cities. To respond to this reality, the Government of Aragon has developed a unique, completely free training proposal, designed to bring digital learning directly to the heart of the people.
This new initiative, known as Digital Rural Academy, is captained by the Aragonese Development Institute (IAF) and funded by European funds, Next Generation EU. The goal is simple but ambitious: connect more than 22.000 people and reach more than 700 Aragonese municipalities, bringing technology and digital knowledge to those who need it most.
What is the Digital Rural Academy and why does it stand out?
Digital Rural Academy It is a training program accessible and flexible, aimed especially at low-density communities. Integrates online courses and in-person workshops so that no one has to travel far or adapt their lives to fixed schedules. The offer ranges from basic training in the use of digital tools to advanced topics applied to agriculture, entrepreneurship and administrative procedures.
The project seeks to eliminate any access barriers, whether economic or based on prior knowledge. It is designed to Young people who want to learn without leaving their town, entrepreneurial women, unemployed people, farm workers and small businesses. Its purpose is to facilitate access to essential digital knowledge to enhance personal and professional development in rural areas.
Wide range of courses and practical content
One of the pillars of Digital Rural Academy is your catalog of More than 200 free courses Available on the digital platform. The content has been designed to be practical and useful in a rural context and covers:
- Digital skills: basic computer use, internet browsing, email, digital signature and cybersecurity.
- Applications in the agricultural sector: Drone management for crop control, tools for planning planting, and agricultural management solutions.
- Entrepreneurship and business management: e-commerce, business administration and personal branding.
- Procedures with the administration: practical guides for using the municipal electronic headquarters or accessing digital public services.
- Other skills: leadership, online communication, digital marketing, web design, and cross-functional skills to navigate today's economy.
This extensive catalog allows both those starting from scratch and those who want to delve deeper into specific areas, tailoring the training to their particular interests and needs.
A mobile classroom to reach every corner
In addition to the online platform, the program deploys a mobile infrastructure en forma de mobile classroomThis minibus, equipped as a technological class, will travel through the towns of Aragon offering In-person workshops, personalized advice, and spaces to resolve doubtsA team of facilitators will guide participants through the first steps and facilitate registration directly on-site.
This format allows the Digital Rural Academy adapt to the diverse realities of the region, bringing training resources closer to those who, due to distance or mobility limitations, could not easily access them.
Opening day in Monzón: "Connecting the Future"
La first in-person session of the program will be held on July 9 in Monzón, Under the motto Connecting the FutureThis meeting, organized together with CEOE Aragón, the Association for Rural Development and other entities, is open to all citizens: from businesses and self-employed workers to young people, professionals, and members of the educational community.
During the day will be presented tecnologic tools such as virtual assistants based on artificial intelligence or the Smarteye platform, and immersive experiences, talks, and networking activities aimed at strengthening the rural collaboration network will be held.
This deployment makes the Digital Rural Academy consolidate itself as a driving force inclusive digital transformation in Aragon. The combination of online resources and a physical presence seeks not only to educate but also to create a solid, useful digital community adapted to the real needs of the rural environment.
