Abstract:

Rapid digital transformation and technological development are creating new demands for higher education, which must systematically and purposefully develop students’ digital competencies. The European Union’s digital competence framework DigComp 2.2, developed by the European Commission, provides a conceptual and methodological foundation for defining, assessing, and developing these competencies. This article analyzes the possibilities of applying the DigComp 2.2 model in higher education and presents the results of the Erasmus+ project “SIMOnS: Students Improvement and Monitoring of Online Skills.”

The aim of the study is to evaluate the impact of a mobile learning tool on the development of students’ digital competencies across the five DigComp 2.2 areas: information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, digital content creation, safety, and problem solving. A pre-test–post-test research design was applied, allowing comparison of students’ competence levels before and after using the application. The study involved higher education students from several European countries: Lithuania, Italy, Greece, and Portugal. In addition, qualitative user feedback was analyzed to reveal students’ evaluations of their learning experience.

The results demonstrated a statistically significant overall improvement in digital competencies. The greatest progress was observed in the area of information and data literacy, while the smallest improvement was found in the areas of communication and collaboration and problem solving. Students evaluated the application as an attractive and effective learning tool, highlighting the importance of the microlearning structure, short video content, interactive tasks, and gamification elements in increasing engagement and motivation.

The findings suggest that a mobile learning solution based on the DigComp 2.2 framework can be an effective tool for developing and monitoring higher education students’ digital competencies, contributing to the advancement of innovative pedagogical practices in higher education.

Keywords:

Digital competencies, online skills, DigComp 2.2, digital safety, higher education.