{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,16]],"date-time":"2026-04-16T06:55:31Z","timestamp":1776322531469,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":16,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,24]],"date-time":"2023-08-24T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1692835200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Computers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The Digital Education Action Plan (2021\u20132027) launched by the European Commission aims to revolutionize education systems, prioritizing the development of a robust digital education ecosystem and the enhancement of teachers\u2019 digital transformation skills. This study focuses on Universidade Aberta, Portugal, to identify the strengths and weaknesses of teachers\u2019 digital skills within the Digital Competence Framework for Educators (DigCompEdu). Using a quantitative approach, the research utilized the DigCompEdu CheckIn self-assessment questionnaire, validated for the Portuguese population, to evaluate teachers\u2019 perceptions of their digital competences. A total of 118 teachers participated in the assessment. Findings revealed that the teachers exhibited a notably high overall level of digital competence, positioned at the intersection of B2 (Expert) and C1 (Leader) on the DigCompEdu scale. However, specific areas for improvement were identified, particularly in Digital Technologies Resources and Assessment, the core pedagogical components of DigCompEdu, which displayed comparatively lower proficiency levels. To ensure continuous progress and alignment with the Digital Education Action Plan\u2019s strategic priorities, targeted teacher training initiatives should focus on enhancing competences related to Digital Technologies Resources and Assessment.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/computers12090169","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,24]],"date-time":"2023-08-24T10:09:53Z","timestamp":1692871793000},"page":"169","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["Digital Competence of Higher Education Teachers at a Distance Learning University in Portugal"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0147-0592","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jos\u00e9 Ant\u00f3nio","family":"Moreira","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"CEG, Department of Education, Universidade Aberta, 1269-001 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8357-0994","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Catarina S.","family":"Nunes","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Sciences and Technology, Universidade Aberta, 1269-001 Lisbon, Portugal"}]},{"given":"Diogo","family":"Casanova","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LE@D, Department of Education, Universidade Aberta, 1269-001 Lisbon, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,24]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Kukulska-Hulme, A., Bossu, C., Charitonos, K., Coughlan, T., Deacon, A., Deane, N., Ferguson, R., Herodotou, C., Huang, C.-W., and Mayisela, T. (2023). Innovating Pedagogy 2023: Open University Innovation Report 11, The Open University."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Huet, I., Pessoa, T., and Sol, F. (2021). Excellence in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education: Institutional Policies, Research and Practices in Europe, Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra.","DOI":"10.14195\/978-989-26-2134-0"},{"key":"ref_3","first-page":"138","article-title":"O professor como arquiteto da pedagogia na universidade","volume":"14","author":"Vieira","year":"2013","journal-title":"Rev. Teias"},{"key":"ref_4","unstructured":"Casanova, D., and Pessoa, T. (2020). Um Modelo de Design Educacional Para Ambientes Mistos e EAD. Unirede, Available online: http:\/\/hdl.handle.net\/10400.2\/10632."},{"key":"ref_5","unstructured":"European-Commission (2020). Digital Education Action Plan (2021\u20132027), European-Commission."},{"key":"ref_6","unstructured":"Lucas, M., and Moreira, A. (2018). (Translator) DigCompEdu: Quadro Europeu de Compet\u00eancia Digital Para Educadores, UA Editora\u2014Universidade de Aveiro."},{"key":"ref_7","unstructured":"Redecker, C. (2017). European Framework for the Digital Competence of Educators: DigCompEdu, Office of the European Union."},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"152","DOI":"10.17851\/1983-3652.12.2.152-171","article-title":"Escala de autoavalia\u00e7\u00e3o de compet\u00eancias digitais de professores. Procedimentos de constru\u00e7\u00e3o e valida\u00e7\u00e3o","volume":"12","author":"Moreira","year":"2019","journal-title":"Texto Livre Ling. E Tecnol."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1186\/s41239-022-00376-0","article-title":"The digital competence of academics in higher education: Is the glass half empty or half full?","volume":"20","author":"Chinkes","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int. J. Educ. Technol. High. Educ."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mart\u00edn-P\u00e1rraga, L., Llorente-Cejudo, C., and Barroso-Osuna, J. (2023). Self-Perception of Digital Competence in University Lecturers: A Comparative Study between Universities in Spain and Peru According to the DigCompEdu Model. Societies, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/soc13060142"},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Santos, C., Pedro, N., and Mattar, J. (2021). Digital competence of higher education professors: Analysis of academic and institutional factors. Obra Digit. Rev. Comun. Estud. Medi\u00e1ticos Y Procesos Soc., 69\u201392.","DOI":"10.25029\/od.2021.311.21"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dias-Trindade, S., and Albuquerque, C. (2022). University Teachers\u2019 Digital Competence: A Case Study from Portugal. Soc. 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Technol."}],"container-title":["Computers"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-431X\/12\/9\/169\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T20:38:28Z","timestamp":1760128708000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2073-431X\/12\/9\/169"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,24]]},"references-count":16,"journal-issue":{"issue":"9","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,9]]}},"alternative-id":["computers12090169"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/computers12090169","relation":{},"ISSN":["2073-431X"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2073-431X","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2023,8,24]]}}}