Digital Competence Framework for Educators (DigCompEdu)

Overview

The European Framework for the Digital Competence of Educators (DigCompEdu) is a scientifically sound framework describing what it means for educators to be digitally competent. It provides a general reference frame to support the development of educator-specific digital competences in Europe.

DigCompEdu is directed towards educators at all levels of education, from early childhood to higher and adult education, including general and vocational education and training, special needs education, and non-formal learning contexts.

This framework is based on work carried out by the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), on behalf of the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC). 

JRC publication - European Framework for the Digital Competence of Educators: DigCompEdu

DigCompEdu update

The European Commission launched the update of DigCompEdu in May 2026. Like the 2017 version, the update will remain generic by design, covering all education sectors while allowing users to adapt it to their own contexts. It will also keep the structure of six competence areas. 

The current draft update gives stronger prominence to educators’ professional agency and judgement, describing the human judgement educators need in order to make informed decisions about the use of digital technologies. Educators’ AI literacy is integrated throughout the framework, with an emphasis on understanding how automated and generative systems produce outputs, where they may fail, and how educators can exercise professional judgement in deciding whether and how to use them. Digital well-being is embedded as a cross-cutting theme throughout the draft update and is also made explicit in a transversal strand on well-being and sustainability. The draft places emphasis on protecting the well-being of both educators and learners by addressing workload, screen time, boundaries and the right to disconnect, while also taking into account the environmental costs of digital technologies. 

The final update of the framework is scheduled to be launched in spring 2027. 

DigCompEdu structure

DigCompEdu details 22 competences organised in six areas:

1. Professional engagement
2. Digital resources
3. Teaching and learning
4. Assessment
5. Empowering learners
6. Facilitating Learners' Digital Competence

The focus is not on technical skills. Rather, the framework aims to detail how digital technologies can be used to enhance and innovate education and training.

The DigCompEdu study builds on previous work carried out to define citizens' Digital Competence in general, and Digitally Competent Education Oragnisations (DigCompOrg). It contributes to the Commission's recently endorsed Skills Agenda for Europe and to the Europe 2020 flagship initiative Agenda for New Skills for New Jobs.