Digital Competencies for Future Tourism and Hospitality Professionals: A Higher Education Perspective

	n	Valid percentage
Gender
Male	112	41.9%
Female	151	56.6%
Prefer not to say	4	1.5%
Age	266	Mean: 21.0 Median: 20.0 Mode: 20
Course attended
Tourism	164	61.4%
Hospitality Management	103	38.6%
Previous field of education and training
Languages and Humanities	126	47.2%
Vocational Course	50	18.7%
Economic Sciences	47	17.6%
Science and Technology	25	9.4%
Visual Arts	13	4.9%

Table 2:

Engagement in digital content creation

	Yes	No
I’ve already created a website (n=264)	96 (36.4%)	168 (63.6%)
I’ve already created a playlist (n=264)	250 (94.7%)	14 (5.3%)
I’ve already created videos (n=264)	237 (89.8%)	27 (10.2%)
I’ve already left reviews on user platforms (n=254)	199 (78.3%)	55 (21.7%)

Table 3:

Time distribution across digital activities (in minutes)

Activities	n	Mean	Median	Mode	SD	Maximum
Browsing social networks	264	245 (4 hr 05 mins)	240	180	133.44	14
Carrying out academic research	257	99 (1 hr 39 mins)	60	60	94.834	10
Using productivity tools	260	116 (1 hr 56 mins)	120	120	89.18	9
General research on everyday topics/issues	257	94 (1 hr 34 mins)	60	60	80.788	8
Play online games	250	89 (1 hr 29 mins)	15	0	143.83	10

Table 4:

Searching, finding and accessing information

Dimension A. Search, find, access	n	1	2	3	4	5	Don’t know	Mean	Median	Mode	SD
1. I can search and find a specific object or similar objects using various search engines and databases, using appropriate keywords and advanced criteria, and filters	266	1.1	1.1	6.7	55.4	35.2	0.4	4.2	4	4	0.7190
2. I can search and find a specific person on various social networks using various techniques and filters	261	0.0	2.6	9.7	49.8	35.6	1.1	4.2	4	4	0.7270
3. I can search and find groups on specific topics on various social media platforms	264	0.0	3.4	11.2	47.2	37.1	0.7	4.2	4	4	0.7681
4. I can navigate in the real world using the advanced features of a navigator	266	1.1	1.1	6.0	43.1	48.3	0.4	4.4	4	5	0.7471
5. I can watch (read, listen, view) content in various formats on various smart devices	262	0.4	0.7	8.2	28.5	60.3	0.4	4.5	5	5	0.7152

Table 5:

Developing, applying and modifying data

Dimension B. Develop, apply, modify	n	1	2	3	4	5	Don’t know	Mean	Median	Mode	SD
6. I can create an event and set notifications using a digital calendar	258	0.4	3.7	13.5	39.7	39.3	3.0	4.2	4	4	0.8411
7. I can creatively design and/or develop a website using various digital tools	234	6.0	11.2	21.3	33.3	15.7	11.6	3.5	4	4	1.1316
8. I can create a document with text, diagrams, tables, reports, and advanced formatting	258	0.4	6.7	13.9	43.4	32.2	1.9	4.0	4	4	0.8901
9. I can apply Creative Commons licenses to content or software that I have created	202	8.6	17.2	23.6	18.4	7.9	22.1	3.0	3	3	1.1611
10. I can apply statistical techniques using appropriate software	250	2.6	11.2	22.5	41.6	15.7	5.6	3.6	4	4	0.9935

Table 6:

Communicating, collaborating and sharing information

Dimension C. Communicate, collaborate, share	n	1	2	3	4	5	Don’t know	Mean	Median	Mode	SD
11. I can convert content from one format to another	253	0.7	2.2	12.0	43.8	36.0	3.4	4.2	4	4	0.8009
12. I can collaborate with people using various smart devices, platforms, and digital tools	262	0.4	1.1	5.2	44.9	46.4	1.9	4.4	4	5	0.6782
13. I can teach an e-course or an e-seminar, give a lecture or make a presentation using various digital tools	238	4.5	11.2	19.9	36.3	17.2	10.5	3.6	4	4	1,0916

Table 7:

Storing, managing and deleting skills

Dimension D. Store, manage and delete	n	1	2	3	4	5	Don’t know	Mean	Median	Mode	SD
14. I can take a photo or a video and save it in various formats, using various smart devices and digital recording tools	260	0.4	3.0	15.0	36.3	42.7	2.6	4.21	4	5	0.8414
15. I can download content and save it directly to the relevant folder	265	0.4	0.4	6.4	35.2	56.9	0.4	4.49	5	5	0.6692
16. I can copy and save screenshots from various smart devices	267	0.0	1.1	5.6	30.3	62.9	0.0	4.55	5	5	0.6548
17. I can delete some of my connections/friends in various social networks	262	0.4	0.0	7.1	31.1	59.6	1.1	4.52	5	5	0.6648
18. I can organise the files on my computer into a hierarchical folder structure	250	0.0	1.9	8.2	33.0	50.6	4.1	4.41	5	5	0.7351

Table 8:

Evaluation competencies

Dimension E. Evaluate	n	1	2	3	4	5	Don’t know	Mean	Median	Mode	SD
19. I can evaluate an object and/or a smart device using appropriate quality criteria	254	0.4	1.9	19.9	43.8	29.2	4.5	4.05	4.0	4.0	0.7938
20. I can critique an object and/or a smart device on relevant social media	263	0.4	2.6	12.0	41.6	41.9	1.1	4.24	4.0	5.0	0.7958
21. I can evaluate whether some information is (1) hoax, (2) fake, (3) scam, or (4) fraud	256	0.4	2.6	15.7	44.9	32.2	3.7	4.11	4.0	4.0	0.7974
22. I can evaluate whether a website is secure and trusted	256	0.4	3.0	16.5	49.8	26.2	2.6	4.03	4.0	4.0	0.7792
23. I can identify the intellectual property rights of content that I have found on Internet	247	0.7	6.7	19.9	44.9	20.2	5.2	3.83	4.0	4.0	0.8793
24. I can evaluate whether an email is spam, adware, phishing, or fraud	251	0.4	1.1	18.4	42.7	31.5	3.0	4.10	4.0	4.0	0.7780

Table 9:

Protection competencies

Dimension F. Protect	n	1	2	3	4	5	Don’t know	Mean	Median	Mode	SD
25. I can regularly change my passwords and settings of my smart devices and Internet accounts	259	0.4	3.0	7.1	42.7	43.8	1.9	4.31	4.0	5.0	0.7698
26. I can protect various smart devices and e-accounts using different passwords and frequently changing them	264	2.2	5.2	12.7	41.9	36.7	1.1	4.07	4.0	4.0	0.9568
27. I can protect myself and others against identity theft, harassment, bulling, or slander	256	1.1	4.9	16.5	44.2	29.2	4.1	4.00	4.0	4.0	0.8878
28. I can anonymise my content created in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint	242	1.5	7.1	18.0	36.3	27.7	9.4	3.90	4.0	4.0	0.9803
29. I can protect my files so that no one can modify or tamper with them.	254	0.4	3.4	13.5	39.3	38.6	4.9	4.18	4.0	4.0	0.8333

References

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Articles in this issue

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/ejthr-2026-0006 | Journal eISSN: 2182-4924 | Journal ISSN: 2182-4916

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Language: English

Page range: 62 - 75

Submitted on: Feb 27, 2026

Accepted on: May 15, 2026

Published on: Aug 17, 2026

Published by: Polytechnic Institute of Leiria

In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services

Publication frequency: 2 issues per year

Keywords:

Digital Competencies,

Tourism and Hospitality students,

DigComp framework

Related subjects:

Business and economics,

Business management,

Business management, other,

Industries,

Tourism, hospitality, travel,

Event industry, leisure industry,

Sports and recreation,

Sports and recreation, other

© 2026 Margarida C. Santos, Filipa Perdigão Ribeiro, Nélson deMatos, Marisol B. Correia, published by Polytechnic Institute of Leiria
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Volume 16 (2026): Issue s1 (August 2026)