Development of Digital Competencies of Civil Servants: A Socio-Constructivist Analysis

The article examines the problem of the development of digital competencies of civil servants in the context of the transformation of public administration. The traditional approach of reducing digital competencies to a set of technical skills is insufficient. Based on the methodology of social constructivism and the theory of social engineering of technologies (SCOT), the socially constructed nature of the requirements for the digital training of officials is revealed. Digital competencies are analyzed as a dynamic product of the interaction of various social groups (government, IT corporations, civil society), each of which gives them their own meanings and goals. The article identifies the normative and ideological burden of modern training programs, as well as substantiates the need to move from a technocratic model to a critical-reflective one, including competencies in the field of data, ethics and digital services management. It is possible to develop and improve the digital competencies of civil servants with the help of special technology. The proposed technology is designed depending on professional responsibilities and includes three groups of methods and takes into account the social context of the formation of digital competencies of civil servants.