Digital Poverty – Students left behind

As an aspect of deprivation, ‘Digital Poverty’ and digital exclusion pre-date the coronavirus pandemic. However, the majority of communications moving online due to the Covid-19 lockdown has further highlighted the scale of the digital divide.

Research by the Office of Students suggests more than half of higher education students (56%) lacked access to “appropriate online course materials” during lockdown. 18% were impacted by lack of access to a computer or laptop, and over half of students (52%) were impacted by slow or unreliable internet connections.

Digital poverty is a very real and current problem in the HE sector. As the world post-pandemic will inevitably be more online, increased efforts must be made to ensure that society’s pursuit of a digital future does not widen social mobility gaps.

This ProtectED Reflections event will explore the problems faced by students experiencing ‘Digital Poverty’. Speakers will discuss support available for digitally excluded students;…