Digital Competence in University Students: A Comparison between Spain and Italy

Abstract

Digital competence today is one of the key competences for the development of people in society and a special relevance in Higher Education. This study presents a comparison between university students from Spain and Italy on the level of competence in the use of ICT and the Internet to search and process information. A quantitative methodology was used, through which university students from Italy and Spain were asked to fill in a questionnaire on digital competence (n = 686). The results confirm that students have a digital competence that allows them to use ICT in its elementary dimensions, however they have a low digital competence for the design and creation of content, so they have a consumer role compared to that of a prosumer. The last part of the study discussed possible explanations for the study's findings and suggestions for improving the education of college students.

Keywords: Digital Competence, Digital Literacy, Higher Education, Spain, Italy