Feasibility Study on a European Digital Skills Certificate reveals limited readiness for it

Feasibility Study on a European Digital Skills Certificate reveals limited readiness for it

A recently published feasibility study by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) on the European Digital Skills Certificate (EDSC) revealed that there is limited readiness for an EDSC across Member States, and that substantial efforts would be needed to implement it. The European Digital Skills Certificate is an action proposed in the context of the Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027) to support digital skills recognition across Europe. The study has been key to assess thoroughly its feasibility, and to explore avenues to support the achievement of the EU target of ensuring that 80% of the adult population has basic digital skills by 2030.

The study reflects the results of a year-long series of consultation activities that have engaged a wide range of stakeholders. Its main finding is: “Considering that employers and certificate holders constitute key actors for the adoption of an EDSC and show a low level of demand, the overall moderate level of readiness for an EDSC across Member States, and, the complexity of its implementation, at this stage, the costs of putting in place an EDSC Quality label, based on the gathered evidence, would outweigh its benefits.” Still, the authors  suggest further development of the Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DigComp) to support stakeholders in certifying digital skills.

Consult the full version here.