DigComp 3.0 in Moodle: Making Digital Competencies Visible and Putting Them to Practical Use
Digital literacy is now at the heart of every educational program—and yet it often remains unclear exactly what learners should be able to do after completing a course. The European DigComp 3.0 Reference Framework provides a clear answer to this question. This article explains what the framework offers, why it is valuable for course design in Moodle, and how you can import it in just a few steps.
What is DigComp 3.0?
DigComp —the Digital Competence Framework for Citizens —is the European Commission’s official reference framework for citizens’ digital competences. It was first published in 2013 and has been continuously updated by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) ever since. Version 3.0 was released in 2025 and is the most comprehensive version to date.
The framework describes the digital skills people need in their daily lives, at work, and in their studies. It is not a curriculum, but a competency model: it defines what someone should know, understand, and be able to do—not how this should be taught. That is precisely what makes it so useful for educational work.
The five areas of expertise
DigComp 3.0 divides digital competence into five areas comprising a total of 21 specific competencies:
| Area | Skills |
|---|---|
| 1. Information Search, Evaluation, and Management | 1.1 Browsing, Searching, and Filtering Information 1.2 Evaluating Information 1.3 Managing Information |
| 2. Communication and Collaboration | 2.1 Interacting through and with digital technologies 2.2 Sharing through digital technologies 2.3 Digital participation and citizenship 2.4 Collaboration through digital technologies 2.5 Digital behavior 2.6 Managing digital identity |
| 3. Creation of digital content | 3.1 Development of Digital Content 3.2 Integration and Processing of Digital Content 3.3 Copyright and Licenses 3.4 Computational Thinking and Programming |
| 4. Safety, Well-being, and Responsible Use | 4.1 Protection of Devices 4.2 Protection of Personal Data and Privacy 4.3 Promotion of Well-Being 4.4 Environmental Impact of Digital Technologies |
| 5. Problem Identification and Problem Solving | 5.1 Identifying and Solving Technical Problems 5.2 Identifying Needs and Digital Technology Solutions 5.3 Identifying Creative Solutions Using Digital Technologies 5.4 Identifying and Addressing Digital Competency Needs |
What's new in version 3.0?
Compared to earlier versions, DigComp 3.0 introduces three key changes that are relevant to course design:
AI as an overarching theme. Artificial intelligence is no longer a peripheral topic but is systematically integrated into all five areas. Each competency statement explicitly indicates whether AI systems are explicitly relevant [AI-E] or implicitly involved [AI-I]. This provides you, as an instructional designer, with clear guidance on where AI competency plays a role in your courses.
Four proficiency levels instead of eight. The new model distinguishes four levels—Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, and Highly Advanced—and describes each level using specific competence statements. These can be used directly as learning objectives.
New competencies. Computational thinking and programming (3.4), the environmental impact of digital technologies (4.4), and an expanded focus on digital well-being (4.3) have been newly added or substantially revised.
Why DigComp 3.0 for teachers and instructional designers?
Learning objectives become specific and measurable
The DigComp 3.0 competence statements are worded in such a way that they can be directly adopted as learning objectives. Instead of “Learners are familiar with digital security measures,” you should write: “Learners can identify and apply basic device protection measures such as antivirus software, screen locks, and multi-factor authentication” (CS4.1.04). This is more precise, observable, and easier to assess.
Gaps in the curriculum become apparent
By mapping your existing course offerings against DigComp 3.0, you can see at a glance which competency areas are covered and which are missing. This is particularly valuable when revising existing curricula or designing new learning paths.
Connectivity for learners
DigComp is a European standard used in national education strategies, certification programs, and application documents (Europass, Open Badges). If your courses explicitly reference DigComp competencies, this increases the demonstrable value of what your learners have learned.
Transparency toward clients and institutions
DigComp is a well-known benchmark for education professionals and clients. Course planning that explicitly references DigComp competencies and levels conveys quality and comparability—without requiring a lengthy explanation.
How the Moodle Competency Module Works
Since version 3.1 , Moodle has included a built-in competency management system that does not require any additional plugins. For educators and instructional designers, three levels are relevant:
Competency frameworks form the foundation. They are set up system-wide and are then available in all courses. DigComp 3.0 is imported once by the administration.
Course competencies link individual activities—assignments, quizzes, H5P elements, lessons—to competencies from the framework. As soon as an activity is completed or graded, Moodle can automatically mark the corresponding competency as completed. You can set up this link directly in the course settings or within the respective activity.
Learning plans summarize the development of individual learners' competencies. They show which competencies have already been demonstrated and which are still pending.
Here's how it works in practice:
- Moodle Admin imports the DigComp 3.0 framework (one-time)
- Instructors choose which skills are relevant for the course
- You link activities to these competencies
- Learners complete activities → Skills are demonstrated
- Reports and lesson plans show the level of proficiency
For each link, you can specify whether all linked activities must be completed, whether any one of them is sufficient, or whether you want to evaluate them manually.
Importing DigComp 3.0 – Step by Step
Requirements
You will need administrator privileges on your Moodle instance, as well as the CSV file containing the DigComp 3.0 framework. We have prepared the Moodle-compatible CSV file for you here, available in full in German or English, including all competence levels and competence statements:
Import
Go to: Website Administration → Competencies → Import Competency Framework
Upload the CSV file and make sure to use these settings:
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| CSV delimiter | , (comma) |
| Character encoding | UTF-8 |
Moodle automatically detects the columns. Click " Upload Competency Framework." The import will take just a few seconds.
Check imported frames
Under Website Administration → Competencies → Competency Framework, you will now find “DigComp 3.0” in the list. Click on it: You will see the complete tree structure with five areas, 21 competencies, and four levels each, along with the German competency statements.
Conclusion
DigComp 3.0 provides you, as an educator or instructional designer, with a precise, Europe-wide recognized tool for clearly defining learning objectives, systematically structuring course offerings, and making learners’ competency achievements visible. The Moodle Competency Module implements this framework directly within the learning environment—without plug-ins, without any detours.
