Direct and indirect conditions of students’ readiness for the development of universal digital competencies

Aim. Is to analyze the external and internal factors that determine the readiness of students to develop universal digital competencies. Methodology. The survey was conducted among university students by means of a questionnaire. The questionnaire included questions revealing the socio-demographic characteristics of respondents, their digital competencies in the field of information, communication, content creation, security; experience in using digital competencies in everyday life, education, professional activity; assessment of the role of digital competencies in various fields of activity; motivation for further formation of digital competencies. The indicators of students’ involvement in the digital environment collected during the survey made it possible to identify factors that influence the willingness to develop universal digital competencies. The sample consisted of 446 undergraduate students (age: M= 18.67, STD= 0.999), 65% of them are girls. The analysis was carried out using statistical methods ANOVA, MANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis.

Results. The study revealed direct and indirect factors influencing the willingness of students to develop universal digital competencies. Direct factors include high rates of involvement in the Internet information space and the development of computer competence with low self-esteem of the development of digital competencies; indirect factors include the perception of the importance of digitalization in one’s life, the number of digital devices, a broad outlook. It was revealed that an excessive amount of time spent on the Internet and the orientation of entertainment content prevent the formation of readiness to further develop their digital competencies.

Research implications. The results of the study contribute to understanding of the necessary conditions for the formation of readiness for the development of universal digital competencies.

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