Digital Competence Framework (DigComp)

• August 4, 2023
• Andrew

DigComp provides a common framework that helps European citizens and the workforce to self-assess their skills, set learning objectives, identify training opportunities and achieve more and better professional opportunities.

The Digital Competence Framework has inspired more than 20 tools across the target groups of society across different EU Member States. DigComp 2.0 defines key digital competences in five areas: 

• Information and data literacy (e.g. ability to explain information needs; locate, retrieve, store and manage digital data, content and information or assess the relevance of the source and the validity of its content). 
• Communication and cooperation (capability of interaction, communication and cooperation with others through the use of digital technologies, taking into account cultural and generational diversity, managing digital identity and online reputation, and participation in society through the use of digital public and private services). 
• Creation of digital content ( the ability to create, modify and improve digital content and comply with licenses and copyright, or to revise and integrate information and provide instructions in a computer system or device).
• Security (such as the ability to ensure the protection of personal and work equipment, including personal and occupational data and sensitive information in the digital environment, or to understand how technology affects mental and physical well-being and general awareness of the impact of digital technologies on the environment). 
• Problem solving (the ability to identify and address needs and problems in different digital environments, the ability to use digital tools to improve processes, services and products and to keep pace with technological developments). 

DigComp 2.2: a revamped digital skills framework 

DigComp, launched in 2013 by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), has evolved. In 2022, the framework was updated to the current format of DigComp 2.2, which was integrated with 250 new examples of knowledge, skills and attitudes that help citizens to participate confidently, critically and safely in digital technologies and new and emerging technologies, such as AI-driven systems.

DigComp is a valuable tool for policy makers as it can help them verify citizens’ attitudes with regard to digital skills at national level. The framework can therefore be effectively used to plan and design training and education offers at European level. An example of the link between this framework and other initiatives at European level is the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI), which includes an innovative digital skills indicator using DigComp. It is also widely used at national level, with EU Member States aligning their own national education and skills frameworks with the digital competence areas of DigComp.

Disclaimer: The text has been automatically translated from the European platform Digital Skills and Jobs. If you have found errors in the text, please contact digikoalice@npi.cz