1.
The European Commission’s
science and knowledge service
Joint Research Centre
DigComp: The (European)
Digital Competence
framework for citizens
Yves Punie, PhD
Deputy Head of Unit
@yves998
Unesco Mobile Learning Week, Paris,
26-30 March 2018

2.
 About 70 million Europeans lack sufficient reading, writing and numeracy skills
 24% of EU population has no upper secondary education diploma
 100 million Europeans have never used the Internet
 45% of EU population and 37% of UE labour force have unsufficient digital skills (but
significant differences between MS)
 42% of those with no digital skills are unemployed
 Estimations of a possible shortage of up to 750 000 ICT professionals by 2020
Sources:
COM 2016COM(2016) 381 final: A new Skills Agenda for Europe. Working together to strengthen human capital,
employability and competitiveness
Europe's Digital Progress Report 2016 – Digital inclusion and skills
Main (digital) skills
challenges in Europe

3.
18.72%
81.28%
Level of education
Less than HE Higher Education
NumberofMOOCs…
Digital skills
Source: MOOCKnowledge pilot. Data on MOOC learners. N=2412
Source: MOOCKnowledge pilot. Data on MOOC learners. N=1910
Digital skills also matter for MOOC learning
Castaño Muñoz, J et al. (2016): MOOCs in Europe: Evidence from
pilot surveys with universities and MOOC learners.
https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/sites/jrcsh/files/JRC%20brief%20MOOCs_J
RC101956.pdf

4.
(Digital) Skills challenges high on European agenda:
• 2018 Digital Education Action Plan {COM(2018) 22 final}
• 2018 EC "proposal for Council Recommendation on Key
Competences for Lifelong Learning (revision of 2006
Recommendation) {COM (2018) 24 final}
• 2017 COM on school development and excellent teaching for a
great start in life {COM(2017) 248 final}
• 2017 COM on a Renewed European agenda for Higher Education
{COM(2017) 247 final}
• 2016 New Skills Agenda {COM(2016) 381 final}
• Digital Single Market initiative

5.
What?
• A competence framework defining and describing key competences,
proficiency levels and "knowledge, skills and attitudes" examples
• A guide for (self-) assessment
Who?
• JRC & DG Employment + links with other DGs (EAC, GROW,
CONNECT)
Why?
• Provide an overall, complete and shared understanding of what is DC
Method:
• Strong scientific underpinning
• Consensus building with multiple stakeholders
• Updating and revising
EU DigComp framework

6.
Definition:
Digital Competence involves the confident, critical ad responsible use of, and
engagement with, digital technologies for learning, at work, and for participation in
society {COM (2018) 24 final}
19.760 downloads in 2017

7.
8

8.
Competence areas Competences
1. Information and data
literacy
1.1 Browsing, searching and filtering data, information and digital content
1.2 Evaluating data, information and digital content
1.3 Managing data, information and digital content
2. Communication and
collaboration
2.1 Interacting through digital technologies
2.2 Sharing through digital technologies
2.3 Engaging in citizenship through digital technologies
2.4 Collaborating through digital technologies
2.5 Netiquette
2.6 Managing digital identity
3. Digital content creation 3.1 Developing digital content
3.2 Integrating and re-elaborating digital content
3.3 Copyright and licences
3.4 Programming
4. Safety 4.1 Protecting devices
4.2 Protecting personal data and privacy
4.3 Protecting health and well-being
4.4 Protecting the environment
5. Problem solving 5.1 Solving technical problems
5.2 Identifying needs and technological responses
5.3 Creatively using digital technologies
5.4 Identifying digital competence gaps

9.
At European level
 2018 Commission proposal for a Council Recommendation on Key
Competences for Lifelong Learning (amongst others)
 Measurement of Digital Skills (DESI – Digital Agenda Scoreboard)
How is DigComp used?
At Member State level (used in 15 MS and 5 regions in Spain)
 For curricula review, teacher training, student (self-)assessment
 Policies: digital skills strategies, initiatives, reference & mapping tool
 Employment: jobseekers self-assessment, development of training
offers & certification for employees and jobseekers
Global
 Input to Global Digital Literacy framework (SDG4.4.2)

10.
Next steps
(Self-)Assessment instrument
• for proficiency levels 1-4
• combining knowledge-
based items and self-
assessment of attitudes
• containing reliability and
validity tests with real
users (pilot in 3 MS)
-> Autumn 2018
-> Spring 2018

11.
Final remarks
• Assessment and measuring is indeed challenging
• Digital competence (DC) is not just a technical skill
• Using digital technology does not mean being digitally competent
• DC is of crucial importance for everyone (young, old, worker, …)
• The DigComp framework is neutral (not prescriptive)
• There is a need to maintain and update these competences
• Link with Digital Competence framework for Educators
(DigCompEdu), Digital School SELFIE tool & EntreComp framework

12.
Thank you
yves.punie@ec.europa.eu