Building Competences for a Responsible Digital Future: The DIRECT Project

As the digitalization of our society and business world is advancing rapidly, technologies are reshaping how we work, learn, and communicate, while also influencing how we relate to society and the environment. With a focus on all the opportunities and positive aspects that arise with increasing digitalization, we often tend to overlook the ethical dilemmas that inevitably come along: How should personal data be governed responsibly? Where do we draw the line between automation and human accountability? And how can digital technologies be designed to serve humanity rather than control it?

At the Institute for Digital Technology Management (IDTM) of the BFH Business School, we recently started a new research project that aims to address exactly these dilemmas through education.

The Digital Responsibility Education and Training (DIRECT) project is a European research project that launched in the spring of 2025, co-funded under the EU’s Erasmus+ program. Bringing together eight institutions from across seven countries, DIRECT aims to institutionalize Digital Responsibility competences in education, vocational training, and lifelong learning.

Figure 2 The Transnational Consortium Of Direct

Digital Responsibility as Competences

One of the key objectives of DIRECT is to develop a Digital Responsibility Competence Framework, grounded in real-world ethical dilemmas related to data use, behavioral manipulation and algorithmic decision-making. This framework will be enriched through a conceptual analysis of digital responsibility principles and practices.

By building on this foundation, the project team will design innovative learning pathways and curricula, structured as open, multilingual modules. These modules will provide educators and learners with evidence-based resources. A Skills Analytics Engine complements these resources by identifying individual skill gaps using statistical methods and recommending tailored learning activities.

Through this integrated approach, DIRECT seeks to contribute to the EU Digital Education Action Plan, the European Skills Agenda, and the broader Twin Transition (digital and sustainable).

Figure 3 Direct’s Overarching Goal And Specific Objectives

Framework Conceptualization and Skills Mapping

As part of the consortium, researchers at the IDTM are leading the work in two key aspects:

Conceptualization of the Digital Responsibility Framework: IDTM experts identify and categorizes ethical dilemmas emerging from digital technology use. These dilemmas are systematically linked to existing literature and practice. The outcome is a detailed analysis of Digital Responsibility principles, highlighting why current practices often fall short, and providing guidelines for improved Digital Responsibility implementation across sectors.

Mapping Required Skills to Digital Responsibility Dimensions: based on the Digital Responsibility Framework, a skill–competence mapping is conducted, pinpointing the technical, organizational, and social competences (or other observed and relevant competences) necessary to operationalize Digital Responsibility. This includes both digital hard skills (e.g., data analytics, algorithmic transparency) and soft skills (e.g., teamwork, ethical reflection, communication). The task leverages existing taxonomies and stakeholder consultation to build a robust competence schema for Digital Responsibility.

The outputs created by the project will serve as a foundation for future learning pathways and as benchmarks for validating the effective application of Digital Responsibility in organizations.

Research Meets Teaching

The work of our Digital Responsibility Lab at the Institute of Digital Technology Management is not only applied in the research but also in several teaching programmes at BFH.

Executive Education: CAS Digital Responsibility and Risk

Master Programmes: Module Corporate Digital Responsibility (MSc Digital Business Administration) and an interdisciplinary elective offered across all MSc programmes

Bachelor Programmes: Module Digital Responsibility and Sustainability (BSc Digital Business & AI)

Strengthening the Team

Henriette Blom (PhD Student)

Starting in August of 2025, Henriette Blom joined BFH as a PhD researcher dedicated to DIRECT. With a background in health and digitalization, she brings an interdisciplinary perspective that uniquely enriches the project’s focus on Digital Responsibility in education. Her work will concentrate on how competences for digital responsibility can be cultivated and evaluated in diverse educational and organizational contexts.

Join the conversation

Through DIRECT, BFH does not only advance research and education but also seeks to foster dialogue with practitioners, educators, policymakers, and society at large.

👉 We invite educators, students, professionals, and stakeholders from all sectors to share their insights and experiences on Digital Responsibility – especially concerning competences and education. Please reach out to us, visit https://directproject.eu or subscribe to the official newsletter to stay informed about the project’s progress.