DEVELOPMENT OF DIGITAL COMPETENCIES IN HYBRID WORK IN BRAZILIAN FEDERAL UNIVERSITIES
digital competencies; hybrid work; telework; Brazilian federal universities; public organizations
With the expansion of telework and the increasing digitalization of organizations, digital competencies play a central role in this transition, acting as an important facilitator in employees’ adaptation to hybrid work. Nevertheless, the development of these competencies, especially in hybrid contexts and within public organizations, still represents a gap in the literature. In this scenario, this study aims to understand how the development of digital competencies necessary for hybrid work occurs in Brazilian federal universities. This research adopts a qualitative approach and uses a multiple-case study design as its research strategy. Four Brazilian federal public universities were selected for the study, and data were collected through the triangulation of documentary research, a survey, and semi-structured interviews.Data analysis was conducted using deductive coding and descriptive statistical procedures.The results reveal that the development of digital competencies stems from the interaction between individual and institutional factors, the intensity of which varies with institutional characteristics. The study identified five factors that influence the development of digital competencies in federal universities: individual characteristics, technological infrastructure, strategic management for digital development, digital training and capacity building, and digital inclusion. The findings indicate that challenges related to technological infrastructure and digital inclusion, in particular, have limited the full consolidation of digital competency development in hybrid work. Finally, the study proposes practical strategies that offer pathways to strengthen the development of digital competencies in Brazilian federal universities. Among them is the creation of institutional policies aimed at information security and data protection, as well as policies directed toward digital inclusion.