The new Digital Education Action plan presented by the European Commission will play a vital role in building a green, digital and inclusive Europe.
On 30 September 2020, the European Commission (EC) published the new Digital Education Action Plan (DEAP) alongside the Communications on the European Research Area (ERA) and the European Education Area (EEA).
The Communication on the new DEAP points out the fact that the future labour market may require digital skills in up to 90% of jobs in all sectors. However, recent studies revealed that at least one out of five young people and more than a third of EU workers lack basic digital skills. Low-income households tend to be less digitally connected and equipped than high-income households. Only 39% of teachers feel well prepared to use digital technologies on a daily basis. Furthermore, more men are engaged in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields than women, although girls perform better than boys in these fields in basic education.
Building on the previous 2018-2020 plan, the new Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027) further draws on findings from stakeholder consultations including an open public consultation, which took place from February to September 2020. The more than 2’700 inputs reflect the mixed experiences of a broad range of education and training actors, including research institutions, policymakers, civil society, public and private sector during the Covid-19 pandemic. The results of the consultations show how the health crisis has not only accelerated the transition to digital learning and teaching but also revealed a number of shortcomings regarding access, equity and inclusion, resulting in the emergence of digital divides.
While education is a national competence of the EU Member States, the EU can provide tools, guidance, frameworks, expertise and research. Addressing challenges as well as opportunities in digital education, the DEAP aims at ‘resetting education and training for the digital age’. In order to ensure high quality and inclusive as well as accessible and sustainable digital education and training, the new DEAP proposes two long-term strategic priorities together with a range of actions in synergy with other EU initiatives such as Erasmus+, the Digital Europe Programme and Horizon Europe.
The implementation of the first priority ‘development of a high-performing digital education ecosystem’ requires not only suitable infrastructure, connectivity and digital equipment but also effective capacity planning and development. In addition, digitally skilled education and training staff as well as high-quality content and proper tools are needed. The EC will launch a strategic dialogue with the Member States to discuss enabling factors for digital education and propose a Council Recommendation on online and distance learning. The plan also foresees the development of a European Digital Education Content Framework and potential platforms to facilitate sharing of online resources. Member states are encouraged to make full use of the Recovery and Resilience Facility under Next Generation EU to digitally upgrade their education and training systems. Through Erasmus projects such as Teacher Academy or SELFIE for Teachers, the EC will support digital transformation plans in education and the re- and upskilling of teachers. Finally, guidelines for educators will be compiled for the ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data in teaching and learning.
The second priority ‘enhancing digital skills and digital transformation competences’ aims at making training in basic digital skills and competences from an early age on the norm. Furthermore, advanced digital skills development on academic level as well as in VET will be promoted and female participation in digital studies and careers encouraged. Common guidelines for educators will foster digital literacy and fight disinformation. The Digital Competence Framework will be updated to include AI and data-related skills and AI learning resources developed. Apart from developing a European-wide recognised European Digital Skills Certificate, the EC also foresees a Council Recommendation on improving the provision of digital skills and plans to introduce an EU target for student digital competence.
Serving as a think-tank for digital education, a European Digital Education Hub will help to connect national and regional education initiatives and actors while supporting cross-sector collaboration and innovative solutions for the exchange of digital learning content. The Hub will also monitor the progress of digital education as well as the implementation of the DEAP. Through initiatives such as the Digital Education Hackathon (DigiEduHack), the Hub will engage stakeholders and innovators in user-driven innovation.
Together with the EEA, the new DEAP will feed into the upcoming European Education Summit taking place in December.