DIGConsum – Training Path and OERs for Digitally Competent Consumers Erasmus Project

Project Title

DIGConsum – Training Path and OERs for Digitally Competent Consumers

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; ICT – new technologies – digital competences; Inclusion – equity

Project Summary

European Commission has set out as one of its main goals to create a Digital Single Market, where citizens and businesses can access online goods and services. The Digital Single Market Strategy will simplify consumer rules for online purchases, make data protection, copyright and telecom rules for the digital age.

In the same context, digital literacy can enhance consumers’ ability to profit from new digital goods and services, as acknowledged by the OECD report: “Consumers’ ability to fully profit from digital content products provided electronically depends, to a great extent, on their knowledge and awareness of the digital environment and of their rights and responsibilities. How such digital competence could be enhanced through education and awareness raising initiatives is a challenge for all stakeholders”.

However, despite the clear benefits and interest on promoting the Digital Single Market, there are some important barriers from the citizens perspective. Consumers want reliable, trustworthy, easy-to-use services that deliver information or other products and services in a way that doesn’t result in costly mistakes or damaging misjudgements. And they also need to count on the necessary skills to access, understand, assess and make an informed decision on consumption.

Additionally, another pressing priority that stands out at the EU level is the need to develop Digital Competencies for all, that is “to develop the digital skills to ensure that all citizens are active in our digital society”. In this sense, the development of these competences will also help combat digital exclusion, which is emerging as a widespread and growing phenomenon in the European Union.

Within this context, DIGConsum projects main objective is to contribute to the empowerment of adult Europeans by providing them with digital competences in the field of digital consumption.

Additionally, the specific objectives of the project include:
– To create OERs addressed to European adult population and their trainers, reducing the gap on digital competences for consumption.
– To develop a training path to be used and adapted by any adult education practitioner interested in providing training in the project topics.
– To provide a common framework for development but also assessment of competences of digital consumers, valid at the EU level.
– To bring new technologies to all citizens and develop new pedagogical and training approaches and resources that allow reducing inequalities in access and participation in ICTs in non-formal education.

DigConsum training will be designed to fulfil the following learning objectives:
– Learners will be able to search, filter and assess information on goods and services online, and to follow a responsible and sustainable consumption.
– Learners will be able to identify and verify reliable and non-reliable sources on advertisements and commercial communications.
– Learners will be able to manage their own digital identity online, including their privacy and own data protection.
– Learners will have the ability to participate in collaborative economy platforms and to share information with other consumers in the digital market.
– Learners will understand and be able to use copyrights, licences and contract on digital products or services.

Project transnationality is one of the key aspects of the proposal. Achieving a European Digital Market requires from a transnational approach to the analysis and also solutions given to EU citizens. The DIGCOM framework for consumers provides a starting point for adult education practitioners to develop adapted paths and training resources in the field. Project partners represent different national contexts that provide the project with insights from those diverse realities, trying to include those countries over or closer to the EU average on digital consumption to those with lower rates.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 143715 Eur

Project Coordinator

DIPUTACIÓN FORAL DE ALAVA – Dirección de Fomento del Empleo, Comercio y Turismo & Country: ES

Project Partners

• EUROPEAN CONFEDERATION OF YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS AISBL
• ISTANBUL VALILIGI
• UNIONE NAZIONALE CONSUMATORI UMBRIA
• Social Cooperative Enterprise Drosostalida
• MEDIA CREATIVA 2020, S.L.