For VivaTech 2025, the Institut de l’Engagement, in partnership with Orange, announces the launch of the Digital Citizenship Certificate, a unique training programme to understand and act on digital challenges, with the support of the Fondation de France.
This Digital Citizenship Certificate, aimed at 12-15 year olds, seeks to provide everyone with the tools to understand the digital mechanisms that shape our society and influence our behaviour. Designed in partnership with a multidisciplinary scientific board, the training interactively and playfully addresses the major challenges of democracy and citizenship in the digital age. It specifically covers how algorithms and content personalisation work, the spread of fake news and the risks of manipulation, personal data protection, mental health, the fight against hate speech and radicalisation bubbles, as well as best practices for responsible social media use.
Inspired by the Institut de l’Engagement's "Planet First Aid" patent, this new programme is designed as a practical awareness tool, accessible for free via an online platform. The first module, aimed at 12-15 year olds, will be rolled out from 2025, with a second version for a broader audience launching in 2026. This future version is intended to be developed on a European scale. The establishment of a dedicated multidisciplinary scientific council guarantees the scientific accuracy of the educational content and recommended actions.
The Institute's objective is clear: to train a broad European public in informed digital citizenship. This launch is part of a global strategy to make the Institute of Engagement a key player in training on major contemporary issues and raising awareness of tools for engagement, such as citizenship and responsible use of digital technology.
Orange, a leading telecommunications operator, is involved in numerous initiatives on an international scale to promote digital inclusion. To encourage responsible use – reducing children’s screen time and combating the scourge of cyberbullying – the Group, through its #ForGoodConnections initiative, is already heavily involved in France with the e-Enfance charity, and is working to establish safety zones (SafeZone) within video games, as well as raising awareness among hundreds of thousands of children and parents through workshops on developing good online habits.
Today, as part of its collaboration with the Institut de l’Engagement, Orange commits to:
– Contribute its expertise on the substance of the pedagogical approach supported by the digital citizenship certificate, notably through participation in the Scientific Council; ;
– Share some of their content produced on the topics covered in the digital citizenship patent; ;
– Contribute to the dissemination of the Digital Citizenship patent as part of its digital inclusion strategy in France, focusing on «digital trust».»
For Martin Hirsch, President of the Institut de l’Engagement: «We are very pleased with the involvement of Orange and the Fondation de France alongside us. This involvement will help us promote the project to the general public and on a European scale.»
For Oriane Penny-Lepastier, Managing Director of the Institut de l’Engagement: «Our ambition is to make digital citizenship an essential component of civic engagement. Understanding how the digital world works means navigating it better, protecting yourself better, and above all, being able to act within it in a well-informed way.»
For Caroline Guillaumin, Executive Director of Communication at Orange: «At Orange, we believe in the benefits of digital technology, provided it is used responsibly and knowledgeably. Educating parents and children on the best ways to use digital technology is a priority. The digital citizenship certificate launched today is an essential step towards a society where every young person becomes an informed citizen and an engaged player in their digital environment.»
