Digital Education in Europe: Vision, Tools, and Impact 
June 2025

In today’s interconnected world, digital transformation is no longer a distant trend, it’s a present challenge that reshapes how we learn, work, and engage as citizens. The European Union is meeting this challenge with a coordinated and ambitious response: the Digital Education Action Plan 2021–2027 (DEAP). This strategic roadmap aims to modernise education systems across Europe, making them more inclusive, resilient, and digitally competent.

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A Dual Priority: Systems and Skills

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At its core, the Action Plan rests on two strategic pillars: building a high-performing digital education ecosystem, through better connectivity, digital infrastructure, accessible content, teacher training, and inclusive technologies (like SELFIE) and enhancing digital skills and competences for all Europeans, from basic digital literacy to advanced data and AI capabilities. This includes updated reference frameworks (DigComp, DigCompEdu) and the creation of the European Digital Skills Certificate (EDSC).

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From Vision to Practice: Tools and Actions

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What sets the DEAP apart is its combination of vision and implementation. The EU provides funding, guidelines, and digital tools to support Member States, educational institutions, and civil society. Some highlights include:

• Ethical guidelines for the use of AI in education (published in 2022), accompanied by training initiatives.

• A forthcoming European framework for high-quality digital education content.

• The roll-out of SELFIE and SELFIEforTEACHERS, self-reflection tools used by millions across Europe.

• Updates to the DigComp framework to include media literacy, AI, accessibility, and sustainability.

These instruments aim to move education from emergency digital solutions, used during the pandemic, to sustainable, inclusive, and future-ready practices.

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Spotlight: Spain’s Decentralised Success Story

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Spain provides a compelling example of how European frameworks can be adapted to national and regional contexts. According to a 2023 report by the Joint Research Centre (JRC):

• The DigCompEdu framework is the backbone of regional teacher training strategies across almost all Spanish autonomous communities.

• SELFIE is widely adopted to support school-level digital plans and involves teachers, students, and administrators alike.

• Tools are adapted, not copied: Spanish regions tailor EU resources to meet their specific needs, ensuring relevance and effectiveness.

This collaborative governance model, where national guidelines are locally customised, highlights the power of subsidiarity in digital education.

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Citizenship in the Digital Age

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More than a technical shift, the Digital Education Action Plan promotes a cultural and civic transformation. Access to digital education is framed as a right, a gateway to equal opportunities, informed participation, and democratic resilience. The EU aims for 80% of its population to have at least basic digital skills by 2030. Achieving this means empowering learners and educators alike. For a project like Digi-Civis, which champions digital citizenship and civic inclusion, the DEAP offers both a framework and a mission: to ensure that no one is left behind in the digital age.

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References

• European Commission, Digital Education Action Plan 2021–2027, education.ec.europa.eu

• National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (2021), Forum Insight on DEAP, DOI: 10.6084/m9.figshare.14124389

• Castañeda, L. et al. (2023), Strategic Approaches to Regional Transformation of Digital Education, JRC Science for Policy Report, DOI: 10.2760/13248