EXIN’s Associated Partner Profile: An Interview with Suzanne Galletly
Interviewee: Suzanne Galletly, Digital Skills Director at EXIN
EXIN, a leader in digital skills certification, has been actively involved in the European Software Skills Alliance (ESSA) project, contributing its expertise to address Europe’s growing digital skills gap. In this interview, Suzanne Galletly, Digital Skills Director at EXIN, shares insights into EXIN’s role within the ESSA project, its contributions, and the broader impact of ESSA on the European digital landscape.
Why did EXIN decide to get involved in ESSA?
“The aims of the ESSA project are perfectly aligned with EXIN’s focus on digital skills; this is exactly what we are all about. And as we all know, the digital domain is almost constantly changing and developing! As such, it’s important for EXIN to be involved in projects like ESSA so we can stay at the forefront of industry developments and keep pace. It fits with our aim to contribute to the digital transformation in Europe by helping close the digital skills gap. And there is still a lot of work to do, considering that the State of the Digital Decade report from 2024 indicated that there are less than 10 million ICT specialists employed in Europe, compared to the target of 20 million by 2030. Challenge accepted!”
What do you see as the value of ESSA?
“The great thing about ESSA is that it brings together interested parties from many different countries of the European Union, and from diverse areas such as industry, government, and academia. The common interest of all involved is closing the digital skills gap to help Europe become a digital powerhouse. It is exciting to contribute to such a valuable goal! I see the value of ESSA as much greater than the direct project outcome of having people trained to fulfil software roles. It also helps in starting a dialogue, triggering spin-off initiatives within participating companies, facilitating networking around a shared interest, and increasing overall awareness of the need for investment in skills development.”
Which role did EXIN play in the project?
“EXIN contributed to the ESSA project in a number of ways. As a member of the Advisory Board, EXIN was consulted along the way and provided feedback on key policies, documents, and proposals. EXIN produced some specific content around the quality requirements for certification schemes and digital credentialing, in line with our unique expertise. We also supported in the design of one of the ESSA Quality labels, due to our own experience with accrediting learning programs. As part of the project, the EXIN certifications were mapped to the ESSA learning outcomes.”
Which EXIN programs are relevant to the ESSA learning outcomes?
“During the mapping process, we discovered that many EXIN programs are relevant to the ESSA learning outcomes, more than expected! As business and IT are so integrated these days, when we talk about ‘software skills,’ it has a broad scope, including business-related skills as opposed to purely technical skills. EXIN certifications that align with the ESSA learning outcomes include diverse areas such as Agile Scrum, Lean Six Sigma, DevOps, Information Security, Business Analysis, AI, and Cloud. These mapped certifications all carry the ESSA Quality Label.”
What are the next steps?
“The next step from our side is to implement the ESSA Quality Label so that we provide visibility as to which EXIN certifications are aligned with the ESSA learning outcomes. But in a broader sense, it is of course important that the great work doesn’t stop when the ESSA project ends! We are very happy to hear that there are plans to make sure that the activities will continue under some form of Alliance in the coming years, beyond the project end. This ensures that in the coming years, we can continue to work together towards the 2030 aim of making Europe a digital powerhouse. That would be a real and lasting impact.”
EXIN’s involvement in the ESSA project highlights the importance of collaboration between industry, academia, and government to address Europe’s digital skills gap. By aligning its certification programs with ESSA learning outcomes and working towards the 2030 digital goals, EXIN is playing a crucial role in Europe’s digital transformation journey. As the ESSA project evolves, EXIN’s commitment to advancing digital skills across the continent remains a significant contribution to making Europe a global digital leader.
About Suzanne Galletly:
Suzanne Galletly, Digital Skills Director at EXIN, is responsible for designing and positioning EXIN’s certification portfolio for digital skills. With over 18 years of experience, she ensures that EXIN remains aligned with societal and industry developments. Suzanne is passionate about workforce transformation, lifelong learning, and digital ethics, and is an active participant in industry forums, including the Artificial Intelligence Skills Alliance (ARISA).
About EXIN:
Founded in 1948, EXIN empowers professionals worldwide to excel in the digital domain. With a portfolio that includes topics like Agile Scrum, AI, Data Analytics, and Information Security, EXIN is committed to closing the digital skills gap and supporting Europe’s digital transformation.