The necessity of teaching advanced Microsoft Offi ce to develop digital skills for students outside of the Information Technology major in undergraduate programs. 140

Abstract

In the era of digital transformation, profi ciency in Microsoft Offi ce is considered an essential component of digital competence for university students, particularly those outside the Information Technology fi eld. Despite basic informatics training in general education, many students still struggle to use Word, Excel, and PowerPoint eff ectively for academic and professional tasks. This study evaluates the importance of integrating advanced Microsoft Offi ce training into higher education curricula to improve digital skills among non-IT students. Using a mixed-methods approach, including a survey of 200 students and interviews with 10 IT instructors, the fi ndings reveal major skill gaps: limited confi dence in using MS Offi ce, diffi culties creating automatic tables of contents in Word, weak Excel skills, and mostly basic-level PowerPoint use. These results highlight a clear mismatch between general education digital skills and university-level requirements. The study confi rms the necessity of off ering advanced MS Offi ce training to standardize digital competence and enhance students' adaptability in an increasingly digital workforce.