Proposed Standards for Digital Literacy and Awareness Development Based on the Principles of a Culture of Responsibility

Abstract

This study aimed to propose standards for developing digital awareness and digital literacy, empowering staff with the digital skills necessary to perform tasks accurately, with quality, and a competitive advantage, and achieving desired goals in the shortest possible time and with the least effort. This is achieved by leveraging digital technology, its applications, and software, based on the principles of a culture of responsibility. This was achieved through a comprehensive analysis of educational literature, research, and previous studies during the 2024/2025 academic year. The study focused on providing clear practical steps to enhance the digital competence, skills, and capabilities of leaders to ensure continued excellence and achieve comprehensive quality in light of rapid technological developments. What distinguishes this study from others is its reliance on an analytical approach as a basis for extrapolating and analyzing the results of previous studies to understand the challenges and threats to digital literacy. This is to build future standards for developing digital awareness and empowering individuals with the digital skills, capabilities, and expertise necessary to eradicate digital literacy. This is achieved by promoting a culture of responsibility as a cornerstone in developing sound digital awareness, enabling individuals to engage with technology and the internet in a safe, ethical, and effective manner. This culture includes a set of basic principles that form a framework for good digital citizenship. These include: Principle 1: Respect and Positive Interaction; Principle 2: Protecting Privacy and Digital Security; Principle 3: Critical Thinking and Information Literacy; Principle 4: Understanding Digital Rights and Responsibilities; Principle 5: Digital Health and Balance; Principle 6: Digital Law and Ethics; Principle 7: Digital Access and Inclusion. The study recommends the development of educational content that promotes the concepts of safe and responsible use of digital technologies, with a focus on the ethics of handling personal information and data.