DigCompEdu. Foreword

This study presents a framework for the development of educators’ digital competence in Europe. It aims to help Member States in their efforts to promote the digital competence of their citizens and boost innovation in education. The framework is intended to support national, regional and local efforts in fostering educators’ digital competence, by offering a common frame of reference, with a common language and logic.

 

JRC research on Learning and Skills for the Digital Era started in 2005. The aim was to provide evidence-based policy support to the European Commission on harnessing the potential of digital technologies to encourage innovation in education and training practices; improve access to lifelong learning; and impart the new (digital) skills and competences needed for employment, personal development and social inclusion. More than 20 major studies have been undertaken on these issues, resulting in more than 120 different publications.

 

Recent work on capacity building for the digital transformation of education and learning, and for the changing requirements for skills and competences has focussed on the development of digital competence frameworks for citizens (DigComp), educational organisations (DigCompOrg) and consumers (DigCompConsumers). A framework for opening-up Higher Education Institutions (OpenEdu) was also published in 2016, along with a competence framework for entrepreneurship (EntreComp). Some of these frameworks are accompanied by (self-)assessment instruments. Additional research has been undertaken on Learning Analytics, MOOCs (MOOCKnowledge, MOOCs4inclusion), Computational thinking (Computhink) and policies for the integration and innovative use of digital technologies in education (DigEduPol). A study on blockchain for education is also underway.

 

More information on all these studies can be found on the JRC Science hub:

 

https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/research-topic/learning-and-skills.

 

Yves Punie

 

Deputy Head of Unit

 

DG JRC Unit Human Capital and Employment

 

European Commission