JRC shares new report on the EU digital skills certification schemes
The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) has published a landmark report titled “Landscape of digital skills certification schemes in the EU: An analysis from the perspective of the Digital Competence Framework (DigComp)”. Released on March 17, 2025, the study offers a detailed comparative analysis of the 27 digital skills certification schemes currently operating across all EU member states.
Key findings and objectives
The report examines 27 relevant certification schemes across all EU member states that align with the European Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DigComp). It was developed as part of the feasibility study for a prospective European Digital Skills Certificate, a vital component of Action 9 under the Digital Education Action Plan 2021-2027.
The analysis, conducted between November 2022 and January 2023—with final validations in February 2025—uncovers considerable variations among the schemes in areas such as organizational structure, service offerings, technical frameworks, quality assurance, and overall impact. It provides a detailed overview of various digital skills certification systems and key information about each scheme, thereby enhancing transparency and comparability. The report also includes a fact sheet for each of the schemes analysed.
Implications for the future
The report highlights that most schemes serve a broad audience, are accessible both online and offline, and often offer free services or financial aid. Managed by diverse stakeholders, many schemes also provide preparatory training to support financial sustainability.
Promising scalability is evident, with some schemes operating internationally and others showing strong potential for expansion. Additionally, the upcoming update of DigComp by the JRC to include learning outcomes is expected to further drive transparency and harmonization.
For more detailed information, the full report is available on the JRC Publications Repository.
