Europe’s digital transformation is accelerating, yet not everyone is equally equipped to participate. According to Eurostat (2023), only 19% of ICT specialists in the EU are women, and just 46% of women have at least basic digital skills, compared to 55% of men. The European Skills Agenda and the Digital Decade 2030 targets both highlight an urgent need to develop inclusive pathways into digital professions, ensuring that no one is left behind in Europe’s twin green and digital transitions.
The DevOps Academy project was created in response to this challenge. Bringing together partners, the project aims to design and deliver an inclusive and sustainable training programme in DevOps. Beyond technical training, the Academy is also a research-driven initiative, one that seeks to understand the real barriers preventing diverse talent from entering the IT field.
First steps: mapping barriers, building understanding
The first phase of the project - Work Package 2 (WP2) - focuses on the Establishment of the Competence Framework on Sustainable DevOps Professional. Before defining what a future DevOps professional should know and be able to do, the partnership is investigating who currently has access to these opportunities, who doesn’t, and why.
This means looking beyond technical skills: exploring structural barriers, cultural stereotypes, training accessibility, and workplace dynamics that shape inclusion in the digital sector. The goal is clear: to ensure that the DevOps Academy training framework reflects not only industry needs, but also social realities and the diversity of learners it intends to serve.
Methodology: from research to lived experience
WP2 is structured around three complementary research activities:
1. Desk Research – a comprehensive review of existing studies, training programmes, and reports on DevOps skills in Europe. This includes analysis of initiatives such as the European Digital Skills and Jobs Platform, the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), and national strategies on digital inclusion.
2. Interviews and Focus Groups – direct engagement with at least 30 professionals (both women and men) working in IT and DevOps roles. The purpose is to gather first-hand experiences on what barriers they have faced, whether related to gender, education, career change, or work-life balance.
3. Comparative Analysis – integrating the findings to identify common trends across countries and to inform the structure of the Competence Framework. This ensures that training modules developed later will be relevant, inclusive, and aligned with European frameworks such as the EQF (European Qualifications Framework) and the e-CF (European e-Competence Framework).
Through this approach, DevOps Academy moves from numbers to narratives, combining statistical data with real stories from professionals navigating the digital landscape.
Why listening matters
Understanding these experiences is not just an academic exercise; it is a practical necessity. The European Gender Equality Strategy 2020–2025 emphasizes that equality in digital careers requires both policy and cultural change. Barriers such as workplace bias, limited access to mentorship, and inflexible training opportunities continue to hinder women’s participation in ICT.
By listening directly to professionals across Europe, the DevOps Academy aims to identify the specific factors that discourage women and other underrepresented groups from pursuing DevOps careers and to translate those insights into concrete, actionable solutions.
As partner institutions conduct interviews and focus groups throughout autumn 2025, the project will collect data that will help shape inclusive competence standards, accessible training design, and mentoring schemes that promote diversity in tech.
Next steps: towards the Competence Framework
The findings from WP2 will directly inform the creation of the Competence Framework for the Sustainable DevOps Professional, which will define the core knowledge, skills, and attitudes required in three key areas: Cloud, CI/CD (Continuous Integration and Deployment), Automation
Beyond the technical dimension, the framework will also highlight transversal competencies (sustainability awareness, teamwork, and adaptability) essential for the next generation of DevOps professionals.
The results will be published on the project website and shared with training providers, policy makers, and industry stakeholders across Europe. They will serve as the foundation for designing the DevOps Academy e-learning platform and the pilot training phase planned for 2026.
A shared goal: inclusion through research
At its heart, the DevOps Academy believes that inclusive research leads to inclusive education. By engaging experts, practitioners, and learners alike, the project aims not only to build skills, but also to foster belonging, representation, and opportunity in Europe’s digital future.
Stay tuned for updates as we continue to listen, learn, and build together.