On May 28 and 29, 2025, in Tallinn, Estonia, eGOV2025 took place—one of the leading international conferences dedicated to e-governance and digital transformation, organized by the e-Governance Academy (eGA). Maja Videnovik and Vladimir Trajkovik, representing Center for innovations and digital education Dig-Ed, participated in the conference, as part of the CSO Study Visit “KnowCyber”.
Under the motto “From Bytes to Benefits: Raising Prosperity through Digital Transformation,” the conference focused on how digitalization can contribute to economic growth, better governance, and the well-being of citizens. It was intended for leaders, experts, and practitioners to address key challenges and open new opportunities for digitalization in all aspects of human life. The aim was to unite policymakers, technology experts, and civil society organizations to jointly explore successful models of digital transformation. Through panel discussions, workshops, and presentations of best practices, participants gained insights into the latest trends, innovations, and solutions in the field of digitalization.
Vladimir Trajkovik, as a representative of the Center for Innovation and Digital Education Dig-Ed, participated in the session “Strengthening Digital Security: The Role of Civil Society Organizations in the Safe Use of Digital Space,” presenting the activities of the project “SHIELD: Simulation game-based Hands-on Instruction for Enhancing Cybersecurity Learning and Development” as part of the KnowCyber initiative, implemented within the Cyber Balkans project, funded by the European Union. The project aims to deepen digital literacy among both teachers and students, especially in the area of cybersecurity and digital well-being, by combining digital storytelling, AI tools, game elements, and learning through play.
Within this project, a new methodology has been developed for creating educational content with game elements and online educational games, utilizing the possibilities offered by artificial intelligence to create the storyline, challenges, and levels within the games themselves. The lesson begins with an AI-supported story, structured through levels and challenges related to situations from the students’ everyday lives regarding cybersecurity. Through discussion, students collaborate, solve problems, and unlock the next levels of the story. After the lesson, students play an interactive online game that includes similar situations based on the concepts discussed in class, for further reflection. In this way, traditional teaching is transformed into a dynamic and interactive learning environment based on collaboration and critical thinking, while the online game deepens knowledge in the field of cybersecurity.
The project was presented as a successful example of education in the field of cybersecurity, with a detailed explanation of the approach and key results of its implementation. At the outset, the great interest among teachers in participating in this project was highlighted. In the initial phase, 40 teachers were involved, who, after attending a workshop, created over 30 game scenarios and implemented them with more than 2,000 students. As a result of the implementation, students showed increased interest, motivation, and readiness to engage in discussions and learning related to cybersecurity. To evaluate the effectiveness of this methodological approach, survey questionnaires, pre-tests, post-tests, and tests one month after the implementation were used. The results show a significant increase in students’ knowledge in the field of cybersecurity, especially after one month, indicating the benefits of implementing this approach for acquiring deep and long-lasting knowledge.
Trajkovik emphasized that digitalization is not just a technological change, but a process that requires strong support through education and investment in the digital literacy of students and teachers. Although today’s students are born and function in a digital environment, this does not mean they are digitally literate. On the other hand, some teachers do not operate in the digital environment of their students. Therefore, it is necessary to improve digital competencies and enable the proper use of digital tools by teachers, alongside actively involving students in learning how to use these tools appropriately.
The need to build “bridges” from shared digital foundations such as online communication, online behavior, AI-based tools, cybersecurity, etc was highlighted, to connect teachers and students and to develop innovative educational practices that will expand the opportunities and potential in the world students live in. The Center for Innovations and Digital Education Dig-Ed works on creating these “bridges” and encouraging teachers and students to use them for better functioning in a digital world full of new opportunities.
As part of the conference, representatives from Dig-Ed, together with representatives of other civil society organizations from the Western Balkans involved in the KnowCyber project, participated in a workshop dedicated to strengthening their impact in the field of cybersecurity. The workshop offered practical skills for communication strategies and involvement in decision-making and regulatory processes. Participants learned how to analyze policies, collaborate with institutions, advocate for their mission to the public, and manage teams in a complex social and regulatory environment. This activity represents an important step toward building a stronger and more inclusive civil sector in the domain of digital security.
As part of the organized study visit, Dig-Ed representatives visited the Estonian Information System Authority, which is the key institution behind Estonia’s success as one of the most advanced digital states in the world. Among other things, it is responsible for the development, management, and oversight of the key information systems used by the public sector, as well as cybersecurity and the protection of critical digital infrastructure. Additionally, the e-Estonia Briefing Centre was visited, serving as a demonstration platform for the country’s digital achievements and offering informative sessions to familiarize visitors with Estonian digital solutions and encourage international cooperation. They also participated in a seminar on “The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Online Safety and Examples from Work with Children, Students, Teachers, and Parents,” which provided insight into the significant role of civil society organizations in promoting online safety and practical examples of working with children, teachers, and parents.
Dig-Ed’s participation in the conference confirmed the importance of education as a driver of safe and sustainable digital transformation. The conference provided an excellent opportunity for networking, sharing experiences, and building collaborations to create sustainable and inclusive digital societies.
