Council Recommendation on improving the provision of digital skills and competences in education and training

Summary:

Recommendation adopted by the Council of the European Union on 23 November 2023 focusing on the provision of digital skills and competences in education and training.

Further information:

While digital transformation is pervasive and technology is increasingly becoming part of everyday life, many people still lack the digital skills needed in today's society and economy. There is a risk of growing inequality due to insufficient level of digital skills, and technologies can have a negative impact on personal well-being and mental health if not used wisely. Demand for basic digital skills is growing, new specialist digital skills are emerging across sectors and occupations, and ICT specialist are in short supply.

The Digital Compass and the European Pillar of Social Rights set targets to support Member States of the European Union (EU) in their digital transformation. These targets are reflected in Decision (EU) 2022/2481 establishing the Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030, and complemented by the plans for the European Education Area. Digital skills development is one of the priorities of the Digital Education Action 2021-2027, which sets the European Commission's long-term approach to the digital transformation in education and training.

This Recommendation seeks to support Member States in addressing challenges related to digital skills development and the ability of education and training systems to support their provision. It complements another Council Recommendation focusing on the key enabling factors for a successful digital education and training of the Digital Education Action Plan.

The draft text was adopted by the European Commission on 18 April 2023. It was adopted by the Council of the European Union on 23 November 2023 and published in the Official Journal on 23 January 2024.

Official

EUR-LEX: COM(2023)206: Proposal for a Council Recommendation on improving the provision of digital skills in education and training https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=COM:2023:206:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2023)205: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2023:205:FIN

European Commission: Press Release, 18/04/2023: Commission calls for massive boost in enabling digital education and providing digital skills https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_2246

European Commission: Speech by Executive Vice-President Vestager at the press conference on digital education and skills (18 April 2023) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/speech_23_2354

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 23/11/2023: Digital skills and competences and successful digital education and training: fit for the digital era https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/11/23/digital-skills-and-competences-and-successful-digital-education-and-training-fit-for-the-digital-era/

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