SOCIODEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES INFLUENCING THE DIGITAL COMPETENCIES OF THE UNIVERSITY PROFESSORSHIP

Abstract

Education in recent years has undergone substantial changes in the academic, administrative, and organizational aspects, due to the emergence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). This situation has provoked the transition from an information society to a knowledge society, which requires some key competencies for better professional performance. In this sense, this investigation aims to determine the existing relationship among the variables age, gender, and area of knowledge of Ecuadorian university professors and their digital skills. We employed a quantitative methodology, with a non-experimental transversal design, and a descriptive and inferential scope. Besides, we worked with a sample of 657 instructors, to whom a 50-item instrument was applied, to identify the five dimensions of digital competence. Regarding the obtained results, there are significant differences among some digital competencies related to the age and area of knowledge of the teaching staff. In conclusion, there is a need to develop strategies to implement training programs aimed at developing the digital skills of practitioners, considering individual differences and training needs to avoid the underuse of technological resources.