Across Europe, the digital transformation is reshaping the way we live and work. The European Commission estimates that 20 million ICT specialists will be needed by 2030, yet today only 19% of them are women. The European Skills Agenda and the Digital Education Action Plan call for urgent action to close this gap, while the Gender Equality Strategy 2020–2025 stresses the importance of ensuring equal access to opportunities in the tech sector.
In this context, DevOps, a set of practices that integrates software development and IT operations, has become one of the most in-demand skillsets in the digital economy. It enables organisations to innovate faster, adopt sustainable digital practices, and stay competitive. However, access to DevOps training and career opportunities remains uneven, particularly for adults without a technical background, women and professionals facing systemic barriers.
The DevOps Academy, co-funded by Erasmus+, aims to respond to this challenge by designing and delivering an inclusive and sustainable training programme for future DevOps professionals. The initiative combines technical learning in Cloud, Automation, and CI/CD with soft skills such as collaboration, adaptability, and problem-solving, while embedding principles of sustainability and gender equity.
Earlier this September, the project partners from Portugal, Italy, Spain, Austria, Belgium, and Bulgaria gathered in Lisbon for the official kick-off meeting. This event marked the starting point of a collaborative journey to create new pathways into DevOps careers.
During the meeting, the consortium launched the first activities for the definition of the Competence Framework. This phase includes:
- Desk research on existing DevOps trainings and technologies across Europe;
- Interviews and focus groups with professionals to explore barriers faced in entering and progressing in DevOps careers, with particular attention to gender dynamics;
- Development of a Competence Framework aligned with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the European e-Competence Framework (eCF).
This framework will define the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that make up the profile of a Sustainable DevOps Professional, guiding the design of training modules and ensuring relevance for learners, trainers, and employers alike.
By combining European policy priorities with local expertise and stakeholder engagement, the DevOps Academy seeks to democratize access to IT careers and contribute to a fairer, greener, and more inclusive digital future.