Conceptual Issues of the Digital Competence Development in the Framework of the Council of the European Union

In a view of rapid development of technologies that are entering each sphere of modern human beings, the digital competence is considered as one of the key competences required for successful employment and well-being. But in spite of the urgency conditioned by the fact, that almost all jobs in the future will require at least basic digital skills, many school pupils still lack access to the digital technology and content needed to acquire them, and a large number of adults lack digital skills altogether. The problem turns to be even worth because school administrators, curriculum developers and educators tend to be exposed to insufficient information regarding main streamlines and strategies of digitally-enhanced learning and training which would provide their students with appropriate content through correspondent tools and techniques. The current study delivers an overview and analysis of the recent legal statements and publications of the Council of the European Union concerning the digital competence, educational proprieties with the reference to the digital competence and appropriate skills, directions and strategies of their development in the European educational establishments. In the discussion of the results obtained it is admitted that ICT are generally seen as crucial gateway to better learning and more effective teaching, and indeed ICT should penetrate further in all levels of education. However, the real criterion should be the quality of resulting learning effects after all. The results of the research can be implemented in a process of elaborating research frameworks, training programs and curricula purposed to enhance students' digital competence and adaptability to the ever changing demands of the labour market and globalized society.