Program Extensão Universitária e Cultural

Digitally Competent Educators (DCE)

Apresentação

Digitally Competent Educators (DCE) online programme is developed and implemented jointly by Open University of the University of Jyväskylä from Finland; FernUniversität in Hagen from Germany; Universidade Aberta from Portugal and Anadolu University from Turkey.

The learning programme Digitally Competent Educators (DCE) focuses on educator-specific digital competences needed in various levels of education and in several education areas.

Digitally Competent Educators responds to educators’ need for a set of digital competences specific to their profession; but the focus is not only on technical skills. Moreover, the aim is in the use of digital technologies, to enhance and innovate education and training. The course contents include all six competence areas that are described in Digital Competence Framework for Educators: professional engagement, digital resources, assessment, teaching and learning, empowering learners, and facilitating learner’s digital competence.

In its development, Digitally Competent Educators short learning programme followed the design guidelines developed during the Erasmus+ E-SLP project. The programme includes three modules that can be studied stand-alone or as a whole programme, complementing each other.

In 2020, DCE started as a pilot within the E-SLP project and has since then been offered by this partnership.

The DCE programme is coordinated by Universidade Aberta from the 2024-25 academic year.

Course Guide

Destinatarios

This short learning programme is targeted at the continuous professional development and lifelong learning for educators at various levels and several education areas. The programme is internationally oriented and open to interested students anywhere in the world. It offers the opportunity to collaborate and learn in an international setting.

Condições de Frequência

  • Candidates must have access to a computer with an Internet connection and have computer knowledge as users, including Internet navigation. Competence in reading and understanding texts in English is required, as well as communication skills in written and spoken English language.

Cancellation of Enrollment

  • At Universidade Aberta there is no possibility of suspension of registration, by request of the student. According to its regulations, if a student intends not to continue studies in a specific course, he/she should formally request the cancellation of his/her registration.

More information – see Course Guide

Critérios de Admissão

  • The result of your application (accepted/not accepted) will be communicated to your email. If you are accepted, your registration will be done automatically without having to worry about this administrative issue.
  • Until the beginning of the Course, you will receive in your email instructions on how to proceed in the next steps of this training (reception of access credentials to the e-learning Platform).
  • Students at partner universities (University of Jyväskylä; FernUniversität in Hagen; Universidade Aberta and Anadolu University) need to present/attach a document proving their enrolment in the registration process for this course to be exempt from paying tuition fees.

Objetivos

The main objectives of the Digitally Competent Educators short learning programme are:

  • To boost knowledge and skills in digital technologies of educators at all levels and in all areas of education.
  • To facilitate students to develop teaching practices, specifically using digital resources.

Bibliografia

More information – see Course Guide

Estrutura Curricular

  • MODULE 1 – INTRODUCTION TO DIGITAL COMPETENCES FOR EDUCATORS (5ECTS) – October 1st to December 10th 2025

For those who have never been a graduate of the UAb, you should create your register here.

  • Make the self-registration, indicating the full name + e-mail + password + country + tax identification number. You will receive an email confirming the creation of your account.

    If you have already been graduating, choose “Candidatura” and enter the credentials you have always used to make an application.

    • During the data submission process, it will be necessary to attach your identification document, which is the only mandatory document you need to attach. Only de * in red color are “Required fields”;
    • You must accept the Terms and Conditions;
    • Finish – To formalize the candidacy you have to click on the button “Formalize Candidacy”.
    • MODULE 2 – TEACHING AND LEARNING WITH DIGITAL RESOURCES (5ECTS) – January 14th to March 20th 2026
    • MODULE 3 – FACILITATING AND ASSESSING LEARNERS’ DIGITAL COMPETENCIES (5 ECTS) –  April 8th to June 19th, 2026

    APPLICATION FORM (scroll to the top of this page) – Open until June 19th, 2026