Digital skills for museum professionals: the role of higher education

This monograph aims to explore and define the digital skills essential for today’s museum professionals, addressing the profound transformations brought about by digitalization and the ongoing digital turn in the cultural sector. Museums today are rapidly evolving spaces where traditional curatorial and conservation practices are increasingly integrated with digital technologies. Consequently, the professional competencies required have expanded to include a broad spectrum of digital capabilities, ranging from digital communication and content management to advanced skills such as digital archiving, virtual exhibitions, and audience engagement through new media. Moreover, museums today are evolving beyond traditional roles to become active agents in promoting societal well-being, health, and inclusion through their educational programs. Recent studies highlight the significant positive impact of museum education on visitors’ well-being, cognitive stimulation, and prevention of social isolation, thus positioning museums as important spaces for health promotion. In this context, digital technologies play a crucial role in expanding the reach and effectiveness of museum education, offering innovative tools to engage diverse audiences and facilitate inclusive experiences. Therefore, the development of solid digital competencies among museum professionals is not only necessary for managing digital collections and exhibitions but also fundamental for designing educational initiatives that support health and well-being goals. The text provides a comprehensive analysis of the current landscape of digital skills in museum practice, focusing particularly on how these competencies are reflected and developed within university-level education programs. By investigating the educational offerings across various European contexts, the monograph compares national case studies to highlight diverse approaches, curricula, and training models. This comparative framework serves to underline the strengths and limitations of existing university programs, emphasizing their responsiveness to both technological innovation and the evolving needs of the museum sector. A special focus is also given to the Italian context, presenting an in-depth overview of the digital skills framework as it pertains to Italian museum professionals and higher education curricula. The study identifies key digital competences that are increasingly demanded in Italian museums, including digital documentation and preservation, use of digital tools for research and exhibition design, and skills related to digital marketing and audience development. Moreover, it discusses the role of universities in equipping future museum practitioners with these competencies, addressing the challenges faced by academic institutions in aligning theoretical knowledge with practical, technology-driven demands, also in relation to museum education’s contribution to well-being and prevention. By outlining a coherent framework of digital skills, the monograph aims to provide a valuable reference point for educators, policymakers, and cultural institutions. It seeks to support the design and implementation of training programs tailored to the current and future needs of the museum profession, fostering a workforce capable of navigating and leading within a digitally enhanced cultural landscape. The work also contributes to the broader discourse on professional development in the cultural heritage sector, emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and adaptability in a rapidly changing environment. Ultimately, this study not only maps the digital competencies relevant to museum work but also situates university education as a crucial arena for their cultivation. It argues for a strategic and coordinated effort to integrate digital skills systematically into museum studies and related academic fields, ensuring that future professionals are adequately prepared to contribute to the innovation and sustainability of museums in the digital age, but also to foster innovation, inclusion, and well-being.