Welcome to the new ‘DigiKnow? Champions Award’

A graphic with the Young Scot logo on top and the words ‘DIGI KNOW?’ in white on a black background. The letter ‘o’ in the word ‘know’ is stylized as a lock. The bottom of the question mark ‘?’ is also stylized as a lock

We're excited to be launching our 'DigiKnow? Champions Award' – delivered in partnership with Glasgow Kelvin College.

We'll soon be inviting young people to take part and start self-guided learning using resources, activities and assessments.

The Award will support young people to become more cyber resilient and learn how to protect themselves and their devices. They'll also learn to understand the role of data and information in relation to technology use – whilst reflecting on positive and negative impacts of technology use on their wellbeing. They'll develop an awareness of digital rights, identify job routes in cyber and digital, explore their skill sets, and be supported to pass on their knowledge gained to other learners.

The Award is part of our DigiKnow? programme. It launched in 2018, and supports young people to develop cyber resilience skills, safe online habits and feel better equipped to deal with the changing landscape of digital technology. The programme is funded by the Scottish Government in partnership with the UK Government's National Cyber Security Programme.

The Award sits on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework at Level 4 – with 4 credit points attached (40 notional learning hours). It is open to learners from a variety of learning backgrounds – with a goal to support those who may be particularly vulnerable to online threats or facing barriers to their learning.

The Award has been designed for young people, by young people, with our DigiKnow? Steering Group supporting on design and development. The Award covers six topic areas relating to young people's cyber resilience and online lives:

  • practical cyber resilience

  • digital footprint

  • health and wellbeing online

  • online rights

  • career and learning opportunities

  • peer learning

We're working closely with Local Authority partners to roll out the Award with support from our DigiKnow? Ambassadors. The Ambassadors are a network of professionals who work with young people in both formal and non-formal learning settings to support the delivery of the DigiKnow? programme. The Ambassadors will support and guide young people through the Award.

DigiKnow? is an innovative programme led by young people and involving multiple agencies. It seeks to engage with young people on the important subject of cyber resilience in ways that matter to them. I'm delighted that DigiKnow? is now accredited. Scotland can be proud of this grass roots, high quality programme of activity. Maree Todd MSP, Minister for Children and Young People

It's fantastic to be partnering with the Scottish Government and Glasgow Kelvin College on the DigiKnow? Champions Award. Together, we'll help young people to improve their cyber resilience, protect themselves from online harm, and gain insight into the many exciting job opportunities within the sector. Louise Macdonald OBE, Chief Executive, Young Scot.

Get involved

We'll be working towards a roll-out of the programme over the next few months. So, if you're interested in becoming an Ambassador, or know any young people that would benefit from taking part in the DigiKnow? Champions Award, please get in touch with digiknow@young.scot.

Lenka MurovaComment