ASSESSMENT OF HUMAN COMPETENCE QUALITY FOR SOCIETY 5.0 READINESS: THE ROLE OF DIGITAL AND MEDIA LITERACY
Ana Mirkovic, Sandra Stefanovic
Abstract: The development of the Society 5.0 concept opens new questions and research fields regarding understanding the relationship between technology, humans, and society. We are facing the changes and a shift in focus from technologies that are no longer a goal by themselves, but rather a means for improving the quality of life and solving social challenges. While there are numerous studies dealing with technological and organizational aspects of digital transformation, there are also many open questions related to the readiness of individuals and their competencies for active participation in the society that is emerging before us, which can be described as Society 5.0. The aim of this paper is to identify the most important competencies required for the building Society 5.0 concept. Furthermore, it is necessary to propose a model for assessing individual readiness through the Society 5.0 Readiness Index. To conduct this research, based on the analysis of relevant literature, 15 key competencies were defined and then evaluated by 30 university professors from different scientific fields. The competencies were grouped into three main dimensions: digitaltechnological, cognitive-developmental, and social-ethical competencies. The research further analyzes two particularly important competencies - digital and media literacy, as well as social and emotional intelligence and empathy - on a sample of 300 respondents from Serbia. The results show that the ability to use and critically understand digital technologies, as well as the development of empathy and social responsibility, represent key factors for the successful inclusion of individuals in the building Society 5.0 concept. The proposed approach represents a basis for further development of a model for assessing human readiness for digital and social transformation within the framework of the Quality 4.0 and Society 4.0 concepts.
Keywords: Society 5.0, human competencies, readiness index, digital literacy, media literacy, socio-emotional intelligence
DOI: 10.24874/IJQR20.03-09
Recieved: 10.12.2025 Accepted: 19.06.2026 UDC:
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