The article presents the results of exploring the purposes of using digital tools to support student learning at universities. This comprises some identified types of digital tools and the frequency of their use by academic staff, which varies due to their level of digital literacy. Then the collected data is provided concerning the numbers of academic staff using basic electronic communication methods. The above data were collected in Polish and Czech universities and later compared to each other. The presented study was conducted over the period 2015–2016 within the IRNet project – International research network for study and development of new tools and methods for advanced pedagogical science in the field of ICT instruments, e-learning and intercultural competences in Poland (University of Silesia, Faculty of Ethnology and Educational Science in Cieszyn) and the Czech Republic (University of Ostrava, Pedagogical Faculty). The undertaken research was aimed at recognizing academic teachers’ activities concerning their support in university students’ learning process.

The subject and objectives of the research are conditioned by the topicality of STEAM education and the need for STEAM competences, the integration of science basics, the formation of competences in pre-service teachers and students, the instruction of the scientific method in teaching, the study of STEAM teaching methods, the dynamically developing digital society, gaps in the job market for IT specialists. Adequate hypotheses were developed. The study utilized various research methodologies, such as a review of existing literature, specific experimental studies, and the creation of research instruments like a questionnaire and a self-assessment for STEAM competencies based on the Likert scale from 1 to 5. The participants comprised pedagogy students from the University of Silesia in Poland (US) and Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University in Ukraine (BGKU), along with both pre-service and in-service teachers. The findings present key research outcomes and offer recommendations for higher education institutions and pre-service teachers.