Gaps in university students´ digital competencies: evidence on ethical information use, digital security, and lifelong learning

Authors

  • José Luis Bordas Beltran Autonomous University of Chihuahua image/svg+xml
  • Ana Maria de Guadalupe Arras Vota Autonomous University of Chihuahua image/svg+xml

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32870/ap.v18n2.2886

Keywords:

Digital competence, Information, Ethics, Education, Higher education

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze the self-perception of digital competencies in a Higher Education Institution in order to identify differences according to gender, age, and academic semester, as well as to detect the main areas for improvement within students´ competency profiles. It took place in the August to December 2025 semester, and was conducted under a quantitative approach, with a non-experimental, cross-sectional design and a descriptive-comparative scope. The sample consisted of 307 students selected through non-probability convenience sampling. Data were collected using a 25-item questionnaire with a four-category ordinal scale, and the analysis included descriptive statistics, internal consistency estimation, and nonparametric tests for group comparisons. The results showed a generally favorable self-perception of digital competence, with greater strengths in lifelong learning supported by ICT and in communication and collaboration in digital environments, and lower ratings in the ethical use of information, digital security, and critical evaluation of sources. The main limitations were the cross-sectional design, the non-probability sampling, and the use of self-perception. The main contribution of the study was the identification of specific gaps within the competency profile. It was concluded that important areas for improvement persisted in ethics, security, and critical digital judgment

Author Biographies

  • José Luis Bordas Beltran, Autonomous University of Chihuahua

    Jose Luis Bordas Beltran es Contador Público. Maestría en Finanzas, Maestría en Administración, Maestría en Mercadotecnia, Maestría en Administración de Recursos Humanos y Doctorado en Administración por la UACh. Es académico-investigador en la Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua. Forma parte del Sistema Nacional de Investigadores Nivel 1 en el área Económico Administrativa. Su línea de investigación es la sociología y ha publicado mas de 15 artículos en revistas científicas.

  • Ana Maria de Guadalupe Arras Vota, Autonomous University of Chihuahua

    Ana María de Guadalupe Arras Vota es licenciada en Ciencias de la Comunicación.  Maestría en Administración y Doctora en Ciencias de la Administración por la UNAM. Es académica-investigadora en la Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua. Forma parte del Sistema Nacional de Investigadores Nivel 1 en el área de Economía.

    Reconocimientos: Premio Estatal de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación 2014 en el área de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Conducta y Drago de Latina de 2016 por el número de citas del artículo “Competencias en TIC de los estudiantes universitarios”, publicado en Revista Latina de Comunicación Social en 2011. Su línea de investigación es Comunicación, Cultura y Gestión de Tecnología. Así mismo, cuenta con más de 55 artículos científicos publicados en revistas científicas indexadas y ha participado en diversos capítulos de libro y coordinado 6 textos. Además, cuenta con 3 libros de su autoría, relacionados con la comunicación y la cultura organizacional.

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Published

2026-09-30

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 2 (2026): LA IA y la gestión integral del conocimiento

Section

Research articles

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