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²ÝÁñÊÓƵ (²ÝÁñÊÓƵ) Leicester has partnered with the Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) to ensure its students have the technology to get online and flourish during their studies. 

For the vast majority of people in the UK, access to a computer and the internet is seen as essential for fully participating in higher education.  

Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of DPA, speaking at ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ's annual Digital Festival

However, according to the DPA, one in seven adults in the UK, and one in five children, are in digital poverty and are unable to fully interact with the online world because, for example, they don’t have access to a laptop, computer or smartphone, or have little to no reliable access to an internet connection.  

To help combat this, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ has joined the DPA’s national Tech4Youth programme and will provide up to 50 students who have little to no access to digital tools with a free refurbished laptop to help them complete their studies.  

The students will also receive a dongle, a small USB device that is pre-loaded with 40gb of internet data per month, as well as access to digital skills support and workshops throughout the academic year to build their confidence with digital tools. 

Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of DPA said: “Since the pandemic, we’ve never seen such a huge change of pace in terms of technological change and digital access.  

“The rising cost of living, coupled with technology becoming more complex, is pushing more people onto the wrong side of the digital divide.   

“We’re also increasingly hearing from low-income families that we are supporting that they don’t feel that university is for them because they think will struggle to keep up with the kit and digital confidence they need and that situation is only going to get worse. 

“It’s therefore great to be working with ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ. It’s a university that stands out in terms of how it wants to tackle digital exclusion and we’re calling on more universities to follow in its footsteps to deal with the issue.” 

Anderson was speaking at ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ’s Digital Festival, the university’s annual showcase of its technological innovation and the way that both staff and students are using digital tools to enhance the learning experience.  

The DPA has been working across Leicestershire in the last year and chose to partner with ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ because of its diverse and largely local student community.   

²ÝÁñÊÓƵ’s involvement with the Tech4Youth programme is the university’s latest initiative to help more young people develop the digital skills needed for the future. 

Earlier this year, the university hosted the Teen Tech Festival, where more than 250 Year Seven and Year Eight students from across Leicestershire engaged with the industry-leading equipment at the Digital Tech Learning Hub. 

The Hub was praised by the Chief Executive of the Office for Students, Susan Lapworth, who applauded ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ for “doing some of the heavy-lifting on creating opportunities for students who may not otherwise have the opportunities that higher education brings.” 

²ÝÁñÊÓƵ's Chief Transformation and Resources Officer, Tracey Jessup, says the DPA partnership will benefit students

As part of the Tech4Youth programme, DPA will be coming onto ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ’s campus to host a series of free, exploring digital skills, online wellbeing, and employability. 

Tracey Jessup, ²ÝÁñÊÓƵ’s Chief Transformation and Resources Officer, believes that the partnership with DPA will make a real difference to the university’s students. 

She said: “We know digital exclusion can be a real issue for some students and while we have various schemes, like our popular laptop loan scheme, this partnership offers something extra for those who really have absolutely no access to those tools outside of the university.  

“It gives them something to keep that’s theirs forever and allows them access in an equitable way compared to their peers.  

“It’s brilliant that DPA have these types of programmes and that they have agreed to partner with us to deliver this initiative.”