The main objective of the project was to develop and test approaches for improving digital competences for HE teaching and learning that could be implemented at various levels, enabling systemic and sustainable impact. The project aimed to position digital teaching competence not as an individual concern, but as a shared institutional responsibility shaped by collaboration between teachers, students, managers and support units. The aim was to collect, analyse and make accessible existing European initiatives and practices supporting teachers’ digital competences, creating a shared knowledge base for reflection and transfer. Another key objective was to explore and pilot models for integrating students’ voices into the development of teachers’ digital competences through structured co-creation processes. The project aimed to support and empower those with leadership and management responsibilities for teaching and learning by providing them with practical strategies. CUTIE intended to promote institution-wide strategies, local actions, and an open, flexible online course - all grounded in collaboration, shared reflection and the DigCompEdu framework, offering transferable and practical toolkits for European HEIs.
HEIs across Europe face pressure to respond to digital transformation, yet the development of teachers’ digital competences often remains fragmented and poorly embedded in institutional strategies. Teachers are still often recruited and rewarded for research activities. Digital competence is frequently treated as a personal skill rather than a shared institutional responsibility. As a result, progress in this area depends largely on individual motivation and available time instead of structured support. Previous research and recent crises (the COVID-19 pandemic) have shown that technology-focused investments alone do not ensure sustainable digital transformation. What is needed is a systemic and participatory approach that recognises digital teaching competence as a core institutional condition involving multiple actors, including students, managers and support units. CUTIE was designed to address these gaps by shifting the focus from isolated initiatives to institution-wide strategies, grounded in shared reflection, collaboration and the DigCompEdu framework. It responded to the need for sustainable models, practical tools and transferable examples that can support European HEIs in strengthening digital teaching competence.