Page 145 - International Perspectives on Effective Teaching and Learning in Digital Education

The Digital Competence of Foreign

Language Teachers at HEI in Serbia:
A Study Based on the European
Framework DigCompEdu

Danijela Ljubojević Nikoleta Gutvajn
Institute for Educational Institute for Educational Research,
Research, Serbia Serbia
danijela.ljubojevic@ipi.ac.rs gutvajnnikoleta@gmail.com

In recent years, considerable literature has grown up around the theme of
digital education at higher education institutions. The issue has grown in
importance in light of Covid-19 pandemic, which made teachers face rapidly
changing demands. However, the question remains what this abrupt change
has brought when it comes to the development of digital competences of
teachers. This study therefore set out to determine the level of digital compe-
tence of foreign language teachers working at HEI in Serbia, as well as to (self-)
assess their strengths and identify areas of improvement. In order to carry out
this study, a questionnaire of 33 questions was implemented based on the Dig-
CompEdu framework. The European Framework for the Digital Competence
of Educators (DigCompEdu) lists  competences organised in six areas: Pro-
fessional engagement, Digital resources, Teaching and learning, Assessment,
Empowering learners, Facilitating Learners’ Digital Competence. The findings
of this study show that the actual level of digital competences of teachers is
A+/B1. They also outline concrete and feasible national, institutional and in-
terinstitutional policy recommendations to enhance the development of digi-
tal competences in higher education.
Keywords: foreign language teachers, digital competences, DigCompEdu

© 5 Danijela Ljubojević and Nikoleta Gutvajn
https://doi.org/1.6493/978-961-93-467-5.8

Introduction
Recent rapid digitalization in education, specifically accelerated by COVID-19
pandemic, has placed new demands on educators to adapt their teaching
methodologies. Foreign language teachers, in particular, face complex chal-
lenges in this digital transition, as they must effectively integrate technology
to enhance language teaching and learning. For them, digital competence
goes beyond using basic digital tools – it involves the ability to create engag-
ing, multimodal learning experiences that facilitate language learning, devel-

Klančar, A., Štemberger, T., Prosen, M., & Ličen, S. (Eds.). (2025). International Perspectives
on Effective Teaching and Learning in Digital Education. University of Primorska Press.