The COVID-19 pandemic showed that the efficient use of digital technologies by local governments is crucial to meeting residents’ needs. During the pandemic, many offices quickly and efficiently moved their operations online, but for others this proved very difficult. It was not always possible to prepare counties to carry out this type of activity. The problems varied: sometimes there was a lack of equipment, and sometimes officials had insufficient digital skills. The EU’s “Digital County” competition is intended to solve at least some of these problems. The project funds were allocated primarily to the digitalisation of local government units and the entities subordinate to them. IT equipment, software and licences necessary for providing e-services and remote work were purchased.
Digital training was also provided for offices and educational institutions on the use of the purchased equipment, software and licences. The cybersecurity status of local government units was also analysed, and efforts were made to ensure the security of local government IT systems. The Education, Culture and Sport Department of Powiat Bolesławiecki quickly took advantage of the funding opportunity and applied to participate in the “Digital County” competition.
As a result, equipment and software were purchased for the county office and educational institutions. Under the competition, I and II General Secondary Schools, the Complex of General and Vocational Schools, the Complex of Electronics Schools, the Complex of Mechanical Schools, the Complex of Construction Schools, the Complex of Trade and Services Schools, the Psychological and Educational Counselling Centre, the County Centre for Education and Staff Training, the County Family Assistance Centre, the County Centre for Joint Services, the County Roads Authority and the Youth Cultural Centre in Bolesławiec will receive laptops with software.
The Bolesławiec County Office will receive a server with an operating system, a network switch and a UPS. The II General Secondary School will also receive a UPS. The project’s biggest beneficiaries are undoubtedly the County Complex of Special Schools and Institutions in Bolesławiec, which will receive 15 laptops with software, and the Special Primary School in Iwiny at the County Youth Educational Centre. The institution will receive 13 laptops with educational and office software. The funding amounts to PLN 269,286. PLN 257,320 was allocated for the purchase of IT equipment for educational institutions in Bolesławiec County.
