Building Digital Skills through Digitalisation of Education

Abstract

Under the impact of today’s digitally driven world, digital skills integration into education becomes essential for equipping learners with the competencies mandatory for success in the 21st century. This paper investigates the transformative capability of digitalisation in education and intends to explain its impact on the development of digital literacy and digital skills among Gen Z. The current scientific literature highlights the crucial role of digital skills in fostering employability, promoting innovation, and driving social progress. However, there remains a significant gap in understanding how digitalisation proposals within education affect skill acquisition, educational equity, and broader societal implications. This research paper applies a powerful mixed-method research technique and blends qualitative analysis - through study and analysis of field literature and European-level reports - with quantitative analysis of statistical data. The research question that governs this investigation aims at examining discrepancies in access and use of digital resources across various demographic groups. The main results of this investigation uncover a complicated relationship between digitalisation and skills development across EU-27. While cyber technologies provide many opportunities for customised learning and collaboration, gaps still persist and exacerbate already existing inequalities. Additionally, this paper identifies the need for extensive educational methodologies that ensure a harmonious incorporation of digital tools into educational curricula. Consequently, this paper is instrumental to the field of knowledge because it provides a broad analysis of the digitalisation of education and links theoretical judgements with empirical evidence. Finally, this research is disclosing the challenges and opportunities inherent in the development of digital skills, which present eloquent insights for policymakers, professors, and researchers determined to channel the full potential of digital technologies in education.