Digital Competences Of Rural Population: Theory, Estimation Methodology And Research Experience

The current digital transformation needs a universal digital literacy among population enabling to establish the foundations for the ecosystem of the digital economy, prepare citizens to face up to new challenges and ensure information security. Under these circumstances, advanced digital skills are a key prerequisite for living in the digital environment while increasing the efficiency, make people’s life more comfortable and open new opportunities for personal and professional development. However, the opportunities created by the digital economy and the transition to a new industrial and productional model are exacerbating the digital divide between different social and geographical groups of population. The paper deals with the theoretical foundations of digital literacy, analyzes the methodological approaches to its estimation and summarizes the practical aspects of its development based upon the results of the student scientific expedition to the Bezenchuksky municipal raion of the Samara Region (Russia) in 2019. The expedition was aimed at the research into the development of digital economy ecosystem in the rural municipal raion and the level of ICT and digital technologies used by its citizens. The analysis and assessment are based upon the data collected through the sociological research (questionnaire) “Digital competencies of people in the Bezenchuksky municipal raion” which was held during the expedition.