DigPlay Officially Kicks Off: Transforming Play into Proof
The DigPlay journey has officially begun.
On 1 April 2026, partners from across Europe came together for the project’s official kick-off meeting, marking the start of an exciting three-year collaboration that aims to transform how young people’s digital skills are recognised and valued.
Co-funded by the European Union, DigPlay brings together experts in education, digital innovation, youth engagement, assessment and technology to explore a simple but powerful question:
What if the skills young people develop through gaming could be recognised as evidence of real-world digital competence?
Every Game Played Builds Skills
Millions of young people spend time solving problems, collaborating, communicating and thinking strategically while playing digital games. These are valuable digital competences, yet they often remain invisible in traditional education and assessment systems.
DigPlay aims to change that.
The project will develop an innovative approach that transforms gameplay into meaningful evidence of learning, helping educators better recognise digital capabilities while creating new opportunities for young people to demonstrate what they know and can do.
Aligned with the European Digital Competence Framework (DigComp), DigPlay will make digital skills recognition more authentic, engaging and inclusive.
Making Digital Skills Visible
DigPlay is built around a clear vision:
Turn PLAY into PROOF.
Instead of relying solely on traditional tests, the project explores how naturally occurring gameplay behaviours can provide evidence of digital competences such as collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, communication and problem-solving.
By recognising these skills where they already develop, DigPlay aims to help bridge the gap between informal learning and formal recognition.
Designed for Inclusion
At its heart, DigPlay is about creating fairer opportunities.
The project places particular emphasis on reaching girls, rural youth and underserved communities, ensuring that digital capability can be recognised regardless of background, learning pathway or previous academic performance.
Over the next three years, the project will work with schools, youth organisations, educators and learners across Europe to test, refine and validate its innovative approach.
A European Collaboration
DigPlay brings together a diverse consortium of organisations with expertise spanning education, research, technology, gaming, employability and communication.
By combining these different perspectives, the partnership will co-create tools, resources and learning experiences that support educators while helping young people gain recognition for skills they may already be developing every day.
Looking Ahead
The kick-off meeting marked the beginning of an exciting journey. With the project now underway, partners are working together to lay the foundations for an innovative framework that will connect gameplay, digital competence and education in new ways.
Throughout the project, the DigPlay community will share research insights, project milestones, stories from educators and learners, opportunities to get involved, and the latest developments as the initiative progresses.
Whether you’re an educator, youth worker, policymaker, parent or simply interested in the future of digital learning, we invite you to follow the journey.
Together, we’re helping create a future where every young person’s digital capability is recognised, validated and valued.
Because it’s time to turn Play into Proof.
Follow the Journey
The official kick-off marks the beginning of an exciting European collaboration.
As DigPlay progresses, this website will share project news, research insights, partnership activities, opportunities to participate and key milestones from across the consortium.
Together, we’re working towards a future where every young person’s digital capability is recognised, validated and valued.
It’s time to turn Play into Proof.
