DigComp was published first in 2013. Most adult educators in most European countries have at least heard of the competence framework. But is DigComp really in use in adult education? And if yes: how? In order to get a better picture about this, we conducted some research in the 7 participating countries and collected examples of use of DigComp for managing adult education. The results, with 3 examples of good practice from each country, are to be published as a booklet. Expect publication here shortly.
One core part of the DigCompAE project is developing workshop concepts for adult education staff to get familiar with DigComp, both it's theoretical background, and ways to apply it in adult education organisations.
In the period from July 2024 to February 2025, the seven partner organisations in the project created workshop concepts tailored to their specific needs (in terms of size of organisation, company culture, specifics of the educational system, etc.) but should also be applicabe and of use for other adult educators in the country and across Europe.
The workshop concepts consist of
These wholesome workshop concepts will be made available to the public here on this website. The idea is that everybody who wants can use the workshop concepts (and tool kits) for their own inhouse staff training on DigComp, the European framework for digital competences of citizens.
The workshop concepts are all tested in (typically multiple) staff trainings in the organisations who developed them.
Currently (July 2025) the workshop concepts are in the late stage of editing and peer reviewing.Expect publication shortly (late summer 2025).
One of the paper walls created during the staff training at VHS Hannover on 29 April 2025. The task was to find everyday application of certain "digital skills" as defined in DigComp.
DigComp (current version: 2.2) is the European framework to define competencies in the area of dealing with computers (or short: digital competences) of citizens. The framework is used for different purposes. One is measuring and documenting a person's digital skills*, and doing so in a way standardized across the EU; this can be used for digital skills achieved in formal education (e.g. at school), but also in any other formal, non-formal or informal settings.
DigComp has been issued by the European Commission starting with DigComp 1.0 in 2013. It was developed by a group of experts on behalf of the Commission. It has since then been updated in several steps. In 2025, the most recent version so far is DigiComp 2.2, issued in 2022 (see our Library) A major update was integrating skills to deal with articifical intelligence (AI). A new version is in the making, and it will probably called DigComp 3.0.
DigComp relates to the European Qualification Framework (EQF) which uses a similar approach for education in general.
A similar system that is better known in the wider public is the Common European Reference Framework for Languages (CEFR) with its classification of language skills between Level A1 (beginner) and Level C2 (approximating a well-educated native speaker).
DigComp 2.2 defines five Competence Areas for dealing with the digital world:
Each area holds three to six (sub-) competences.
For example, (sub-) competence 2.1 is: "Interacting through digital technologies".
How skillful one is with these can be measured through eight Proficiency Levels, with Level 1 for mere beginner to Level 8 for highly trained expert.
The full official document to present DigComp 2.2 is available from the EU, or you download a copy from our Library.
A short video to explain DigComp
The video was produced as part of the dissemination activities of the DigCompAE project.
Next: The 21 competences defined in DigComp 2.2.
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* We use here "compentences" and "skills" as synonyms, for the ease of reading. However, in expert academic discourse, skills and competences are seen as different things. One well-established differentiation is seeing competences as including a) knowledge b) skills c) attitudes.
Organisations participating in the DigCompAE project are:
