“Digital competence” is the totality of the knowledge, skills and abilities of a natural person or an organisation or society with regard to digital information and communication technologies and a world shaped by these technologies.

In the age of the transition from the industrial age to the digital age, digital change, digitisation and digital transformation are bringing about a fundamental change that affects all areas of human life, making digital technologies an integral part of all systems which are relevant to human life. Knowledge of these technologies and their functions is thus of the greatest relevance.

The term “digital competence” refers to the more practical aspects of the canon of knowledge, abilities and skills specific and relevant to the digital world. In contrast, the concept of “digital education” is broader.

The acquisition of “digital competence”, especially with regard to fulfilling the requirements of a professional activity in the digital information age, is described by the term “digital qualification”.