CWA 16624-1:2013

The e-Competence Framework for ICT Users is structured using four dimensions, adopting the “dimension” terminology used by the e-Competence Framework for ICT Professionals . This intentional reuse of terminology will assist in leading to a more consistent approach to framework development, assist users (e.g. a Human Resource function) of both frameworks in getting to grips with each framework and offer the potential for a consistent approach which could in the future be extended to create a similar framework for e-Business / e-Leadership, the third e-Skills category as defined by the European e-Skills Forum in 2004.
The four dimensions reflect different levels of ICT user e-competence requirements and are specified as follows:
Dimension 1: Five ICT User e-Competence areas have been developed in this particular project. These areas were selected based on survey feedback from the previous framework requirements project and are derived from commonly used ICT office productivity applications:
-  Word Processing
-  Spreadsheets
-  Presentation
-  Communications
-  Web Browsing and Information Search
NOTE  It is important to note that this project in itself will not result in an exhaustive framework of all ICT user e-competences. The framework is explicitly designed to be expanded to include further ICT user competence areas in the future.
A generic description of each ICT User e-Competence area is also provided.
Dimension 2: A set of ICT User e-Competences are provided for each area, with a generic description for each competence. These competences provide the European generic reference definitions of the ICT User e-Competence Framework. Where a competence is shared across various e-Competence Areas, the project team have looked to reuse the same competence wording where possible.
Dimension 3: This sets out the proficiency levels from Foundation to Advanced for each ICT User e-Competence. These in turn relate to EQF levels 1 to 4 for the majority of end user e-competences in the framework. This mapping is explored in further detail in Section 2.4 of the development guidelines.
Dimension 4: Samples are provided of knowledge and skills that relate to the ICT User e-Competences set out in dimension 2. They are provided to add value and context and are not intended to be exhaustive. The knowledge and skills example are also organised into groups.
The framework adopts a similar approach as the existing e-Competence Framework for IT Professionals in that while competence definitions are explicitly assigned to dimension 2 and 3 and knowledge and skills samples appear in dimension 4 of the framework, attitudes are embedded in all three dimensions. In essence this means that the wording of dimensions 2 – 4 contains references (sometimes explicit or sometimes subtle) of attitudes (See Development Guidelines: Section 2.6 and Appendix 3).