In the European Recommendation on key competences published in 2006, the European Union recognized digital competence as one of the eight key competences necessary for lifelong learning. Digital competence is a complex system of knowledge, practical skills and behavioral elements that enables the confident, critical, and creative use of digital technology-based tools and applications for work, learning, leisure, and civic engagement. Adequate digital skills are now essential for navigating the world and leading an active life, as well as for the functioning of a competitive digital economy.
Facts:
- The accelerating pace of change International future studies envision that by 2030, 85% of jobs that do not exist today will be created, and 65% of children currently in primary school will work in completely new jobs that do not yet exist. Digital competence has become key to employability. Not only because of its role in improving employability, but also because at least basic digital skills are required in around 85% of jobs in the European Union. According to forecasts, job changes will become more frequent throughout people's working lives, with some people changing jobs 15 to 20 times.
- According to European Union research, 45 per cent of citizens have no or very low digital skills. And 37 per cent of the workforce has no or very low digital skills. Forty per cent of businesses struggle with a shortage of IT specialists. Today, 90 per cent of jobs require a certain level of digital skills, which varies from sector to sector. Jobs are changing and new ones are being created (e.g., data steward).
- Today, there is little doubt that developing the digital skills of citizens is a priority, and the urgency of this development is highlighted by the 2020 DESI index data for Hungary and supported by numerous other analyses. The situation created by the coronavirus pandemic has also highlighted the many areas in which citizens need higher levels of digital skills. The development of citizens' digital skills and raising digital skills to a higher level necessary for the functioning of a competitive digital economy, ensuring a workforce with the right skills, increasing the use of online public services and thus improving quality of life have become declared priorities for the government.
- The primary objective of the planned DigKomp System is to make the development of citizens' digital competences systematic and measurable, with certification. This includes the clear definition of development areas and objectives in line with international references, keeping them up to date, developing solutions to support individual learning, establishing assessment and certification mechanisms, and encouraging the development of digital competence.
- The national citizenship framework (DigKomp ÁDKK) largely follows the structure and leveling principles of the EU reference framework, DigComp 2.1, which includes five competence areas, 21 competence elements, and eight proficiency levels. Additional elements developed in Hungary:
- Efforts to illustrate competence elements related to online services through practical examples.
- Clarification of the names of competence areas and the descriptors of competence elements.
- Creation of examples that can be understood in the domestic context – in relation to private life and the world of work. (Creation of a complete set of examples: minimum 500 examples).
- Definition of levels (168) – definition of levels for all competence elements and all proficiency levels to support curriculum developers and training organizers.
- Creation of new dimensions: indication of internal interconnections.
- Profile-based thinking – the aim is to assess current digital knowledge on the basis of profiles and to develop predefined proposals for digital competence profiles. A predefined profile for basic digital skills will be developed for the DigKomp Citizenship Base, and a profile for higher, advanced digital skills will be developed for the Citizenship Plus.
The DigKomp ÁDKK methodological model provides a framework for sectoral and professional contexts. A unique feature of the planned DigKomp System, both at international level and in Hungary, is that it aims to provide tools for developing the digital competences of citizens, as well as tools for developing the digital competences required by the economy at sectoral and professional levels. This is achieved through the development of sectoral digital competence frameworks, the formulation of professional digital competence requirements based on these frameworks, and the provision of methodological guidance to support this process.
