European recognition scheme for digital competencies
Please note the European recognition scheme for teachers’ digital competencies will be made available for the eTwinning community in summer 2025.
What is the European scheme for recognition of teachers’ digital competencies?
As part of the European School Education Platform’s professional development offer for teachers and schools, we have designed a scheme to recognise teachers’ digital competencies at European level. The scheme aims to strengthen the recognition of teacher learning and development that occurs when teachers implement eTwinning projects and participate in European School Education Platform and eTwinning professional development activities. By recognising teachers’ digital competencies, we aim to help them by having their skills validated at national level, thereby benefiting them in their career progression.
To highlight the link between these activities and digital competencies, the learning outcomes of the DigCompEdu and the SELFIE for TEACHERS toolkit have been linked with the eTwinning National Quality Label quality criteria and the learning outcomes of the professional development activities provided by the European School Education Platform. This has also led to the creation of a MOOC series with six free-of-charge courses, each focusing on one of the competence areas of the DigCompEdu and the SELFIE for TEACHERS toolkit.
How does the scheme work?
The scheme establishes a process in which teachers can receive a certificate that shows their digital competencies on the basis of evidence from their eTwinning projects and their participation in professional development activities organised by the platform.
This involves four stages:
- Initiation: Interested teachers should complete the SELFIE for TEACHERS tool, which enables them to reflect on their current level of digital competencies.
- Professional development: Teachers must then participate in professional development activities designed to enhance their digital competencies. This means they need to complete the dedicated MOOC series Unlocking the power of teachers' digital competencies.
- eTwinning project: Teachers must also design and implement eTwinning projects that enable them to apply their digital competencies in practical contexts, tailored to their teaching practice (e.g., pupils’ educational level, age, needs). Those who receive a National Quality Label and demonstrate exceptional performance in the ‘Use of technology’ and ‘Pedagogical approaches’ criteria receive a certificate with a special indication explaining that it can be used as evidence for the digital recognition scheme.
- Verification: The six MOOC certificates and the National Quality Label for the eTwinning project are submitted via EU Academy for verification. Once all requirements have been verified, the teacher is awarded a dedicated certificate that acknowledges their digital competencies at B2 proficiency level.
Important note: These four steps must be completed within two years. For instance, a teacher who begins the process in January 2025 by completing the SELFIE for TEACHERS self-reflection must submit all required evidence (including the six MOOC certificates and the National Quality Label) by January 2027 to receive the digital competencies certificate.
When will the recognition scheme launch?
The recognition scheme was piloted in 2024 with a selected group of participants nominated by the National Support Organisations. This pilot phase helped to fine-tune the scheme's design and ensured its scalability and effectiveness for the official launch.
The European recognition scheme for teachers’ digital competencies will be made available for the eTwinning community in summer 2025.