IT academy project: An opportunity for the IT industry in Slovakia

National project “IT Academy - education for 21st century” supports the development of IT industry through the changes in educational system at primary schools, secondary schools, and universities. Proposed innovations enhance the quality of education in IT, mathematics, science, and related technology areas that have as the main focus ICT. Further, they improve the motivation of pupils and students to study informatics and ICT, and help to develop scientific abilities of both, pupils, and students. Following the requirements of IT sector, in the 5 to 8 years the project aims to adjust educational system to educate 1000 new specialists, as compared to the current state. Project activities are designed for min. 24 000 pupils of primary school, min. 9 000 pupils of secondary schools, min. 3 000 students of universities and min. 1 800 teachers of primary and secondary schools from all over the Slovakia, except for Bratislava self-governing region. IT Academy as a sustainable system for education and training of specialists, recognizing the demands of IT industry, is based on market and IT sector requirements. It incorporates also the partnerships of all subjects within Slovakia that co-create the system itself - i.e. IT companies, universities, secondary school, primary school, self-government, and other subjects. Partnership with IT Academy is established in form of contract or memorandum of cooperation, giving the entity status of “IT Academy partner”.