FENStatS News

Berlin, 01.02.2021. Data literacy encompasses the data skills that are important for all people in a world shaped by digitalisation. All signatories of the Data Literacy Charter agree that it is an indispensable part of general education and thus the central competence of the 21st century.

Data literacy characterises the future necessary skills of each individual to collect, evaluate and consciously apply data. In order to be able to make competent decisions in the future, answers are needed to the following questions: What do I want, what can I do, what am I allowed to do and what should I do with data?

"With the Data Literacy Charter, the Stifterverband wants to strengthen the topic of data literacy and highlight it as an important future competence. After all, data literacy is the key to social participation and prosperity in a digitalised world," explains Volker Meyer- Guckel, Deputy Secretary-General of the Stifterverband. "Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet of Things accompany us today not only in our professional lives but are part of our entire lifeworld. That is why it is important to more strongly promote the ability to make judgments, self-determination and a sense of responsibility when dealing with big data. “

The Charter defines five guiding principles that characterise the central importance of data literacy as a key competence of the 21st century:

1. Data literacy must be accessible to all people.
2. Data literacy must be taught throughout life in all areas of education.
3. Data literacy must be taught as a transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary competence.
4. Data literacy must systematically cover the entire process of insight and decision-making with data.
5. Data literacy must include knowledge, skills and values for a conscious and ethically sound handling of data.

"I am thrilled at how many signatories are clearly expressing their desire to contribute to making data literacy accessible to all by supporting the Data Literacy Charter," says Katharina Schüller, co-initiator of the charter and board member of the German Statistical Society. "There is often far too much argument about whether measures can be implemented. But what is needed first are people and institutions that want to implement them."

The signatories of the Data Literacy Charter have committed themselves to take action to spread the understanding of data literacy and to strengthen the related competencies. They call on other actors to sign the Charter and do the same.

The Data Literacy Charter, the list of signatories, and information on how you can support the Charter can be found at www.data-literacy-charta.de