Play to Proof: new Erasmus+ project DigPlay sets out to make young people’s digital skills visible

Seven European partners are developing a game-based way to assess digital skills in secondary and vocational education, aligned with the EU DigComp framework.

Young people develop digital skills every day, often outside the classroom and often while gaming. They solve problems, work in teams and create digital content. Yet these skills are rarely recognised or assessed. DigPlay, a forward-looking Erasmus+ project running in Ireland, Italy, Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovenia, aims to change that.

DigPlay is developing a new way to assess the digital skills of students aged 14 to 19, in general secondary and vocational education, by embedding assessment in the video games they already play. Going beyond the test, the project will capture how students solve problems, collaborate, create content and stay safe online as they play. It maps these skills to the EU Digital Competence Framework (DigComp), anticipating DigComp 3.0. The project calls this idea Play to Proof. Students will get personalised feedback and career guidance, and teachers will get clear insight into their students’ progress through a free online platform.

The project builds on research carried out across the five countries in 2026. In a consultation with 104 education, research, business and policy stakeholders, 78% reported barriers to assessing students’ digital skills, and only 39% said the digital skills of vocational students are assessed at all. Two-thirds said a game-based approach such as DigPlay would be useful for students.

DigPlay is inclusive by design, with a particular focus on girls, young people in rural areas and learners at risk of exclusion. Over the three-year project, partners will train teachers, youth workers and business volunteers, and pilot DigPlay with more than 500 students in over 20 schools and 5 youth centres.

DigPlay supports the EU’s Digital Education Action Plan and the goal that 80% of adults in Europe have at least basic digital skills by 2030.

Gamification and invisible, non-invasive competence assessment are the keys to success.” — Stakeholder, Croatia.

Teachers, school leaders, youth workers and career counsellors are invited to join the DigPlay early adopter network. Members will be the first to hear about training, pilot activities and early access to the platform. Professionals from business and industry can also sign up as DigPlay business volunteers, to mentor young people and help deliver DigPlay activities and pilots.

To watch the launch video and sign up, visit digplay.eu/play-to-proof.