Trinity Business School hosts discussions on digital skills and inclusive talent development

Posted on: 19 October 2026

Employers, policymakers and educators gathered at Trinity Business School to explore how Europe can strengthen digital skills, widen access to digital careers and support a workforce adapting to AI.

Trinity Business School hosted a two-day event focusing on digital skills and inclusive talent development. The event, Digital Talent EU Days 2026, took place on 15 and 16 October and brought together HR and talent leaders, industry bodies, education and training providers, and organisations working to advance inclusion.

Laurent Muzellec, Na Fu, Provost Linda Doyle, Rehana Schwinninger-Ladak, and Sabrina Di Ruggiero pictured with students from 6th Class, Mary, Mother of Hope Junior National School, Dublin.

The programme focused on the people and workforce dimensions of Europe’s digital transformation. Discussions explored talent development, attraction and retention, with sessions addressing reskilling, women’s participation in digital careers and the changing skills requirements of AI-enabled workplaces.

Professor Na Fu, Professor of Responsible Leadership at Trinity Business School, said: “Building Europe’s digital talent pipeline means investing in people as well as technology. As AI changes how we work, employers, educators and policymakers need to work together to create inclusive opportunities for upskilling and reskilling.

“Widening access to digital careers, supporting progression and retaining diverse talent are essential to building a workforce that can adapt and thrive.”

Women’s participation and retention in digital roles featured prominently in the programme. Representatives from Amadeus, The Coca-Cola Company and the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment explored practical approaches to inclusive workplace cultures, career progression and long-term participation in the technology sector.

A debate on reskilling examined whether large-scale training initiatives could help close Europe’s information and communications technology (ICT) skills gaps. Contributors included Trinity Provost Dr Linda Doyle and representatives from Block W, Hewlett Packard International Bank DAC, Skillnet Ireland, Accenture and AON Ireland. The discussion considered who risked being left behind and how more inclusive pathways could connect women and under-represented groups with digital employment opportunities.

Na Fu, Trinity Business School speaking at the event

The programme also explored the role of talent in protecting critical infrastructure. An interactive workshop brought together perspectives from cybersecurity, defence and energy, with participants taking part in an exercise focused on protecting data centres.

A further workshop examined how AI was changing enterprise capability, access to employment and skills requirements, highlighting approaches to upskilling, reskilling and inclusive talent development.

Across the event, participants considered how gender, socio-economic background, disability and geography shaped access to digital opportunities. An interactive session on intersectional approaches to talent explored practical recommendations for addressing these overlapping barriers.

The event connected organisations across industry, education and public policy to explore practical responses to Europe’s evolving digital talent needs.

About Digital Talent EU Days

Digital Talent EU Days is a European forum focused on the people and skills needed for digital transformation. The 2026 event at Trinity Business School connects industry, employers, policymakers, education and training providers and ecosystem organisations around practical responses to Europe’s evolving digital talent needs.

• Tags:
• Business
• EU Presidency
• Research