Digital strategy for Scotland: vision statement

Digital Skills in Education

Digital and data skills have become essential to how we live, learn and work. In a rapidly changing world where digital is transforming professions and creating new ones, it is vital that everyone has a range of digital skills they can build upon.

AI and other emerging technologies are playing an increasingly important role in education, tailoring learning to individual needs, equipping teachers with innovative resources, and helping learners to develop skills to thrive in an AI-enabled world.

Where we are now

Our children and young people need to be able to thrive in our digital world. It is therefore important that they are equipped with the digital skills they will need to succeed. The school curriculum and the knowledge and confidence of teachers play a vital role in helping young people become digitally literate and equipped for the future.

However, digital learning does not begin and end in the classroom. As new technologies appear that will transform what we do, and how we do it, our digital skills will need to keep pace with such rapid change. All of us should therefore be prepared to be lifelong digital learners, ever ready to renew our skills so we may embrace fresh opportunities.

Where we want to be

We want to see a Scotland where:

Everyone has the chance to thrive in the digital world – whether it’s staying connected with friends and family, pursuing education, or accessing essential services. We are committed to ensuring that no one is left behind; every individual should be empowered to seize all available digital opportunities and enjoy the benefits they bring.

We will achieve this by:

• ensuring our school curriculum improvement cycle provides opportunities to consider emerging trends and technologies.
• ensuring that children and young people have opportunities to use relevant digital tools and skills across all curricula subject areas and supporting our teachers in their initial and ongoing professional development so they can be confident in their own use of digital – and in doing so promote the development of digital skills.
• working with employers and industry to improve our understanding of skills needs at a national level, so we can support people to become digitally and data literate.
• beyond our schools, colleges, and in-work training, supporting our university sector to remain at the forefront of digital research and innovation.
• increasing the public’s awareness of the opportunities and threats which advancing digital technology (including AI) and data can offer.