University students' digital competence in three areas of the DigCom 2.1 model: A comparative study at three European universities

Abstract

This study analysed the digital competence of 1,073 students at one Italian and two Spanish universities using the COBADI 2.0 (Basic Digital Competences/Registered Trademark 2970648) questionnaire. A quantitative methodology was applied to university students' use of, and competence in, three areas of DigCom 2.1: information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, and digital content creation. The results showed that these future graduates had an upper intermediate level of competence in information and digital literacy, and communication and collaboration, but a lower intermediate level in terms of digital content creation, particularly in the creation and dissemination of multimedia content using different tools. Two student profiles were identified for time spent online: those who dedicated a lot of their time to gaming or interacting on social media, and those who used most of their online time to searching for information and completing academic work. Implications for practice or policy: • Two student profiles were identified for time spent on the internet: gaming or interacting on social media, and searching for information and complete academic work. • Information and data literacy, and communication and collaboration are the competences more developed among university students. • The students' skill to create multimedia content need to be improved. • Creativity when generating audiovisual material is essential to code content and information in academic, personal and professional contexts.