Overview
Many students suffer from digital poverty due to expensive data roaming charges studying from home on mobile devices, or from tethering their laptops to phones due to poor broadband connectivity. Some students choose to work in a public library, whilst others may have to travel to another campus or spend an hour on the bus home – time that could be usefully spent catching up on studying.
What’s more, for students from low-income backgrounds who still need to study at home, the cost of living crisis has only exacerbated the issue.
But there’s an answer.
Local Authorities, such as Kirklees Council can and are extending WiFi access to all learners in their respective LA area by adding eduroam to Govroam, at no extra cost. Others, in conjunction with their local HE and FE institutions, are driving the use of a new and innovative plug-in and go affordable technology [edubox] that further extends student WiFi access beyond their campus.
This levels the playing field for all students, so they can now study anytime, anywhere outside their formal place of study.
Learn how, together, local authorities and HE and FE institutions are making great strides to improve digital inequity within their student community. Hear how edubox has transformed the learning experience for students, who now can have reliable and seamless internet connectivity when studying at home, but can also easily study on local bus services, local libraries and beyond. What’s more, hear directly from the University of Cardiff and NHS Wales regarding how they are working in partnership to support medical students.
Victoria Atherstone
Innovation consultant, Jisc
Edward Wincott
Eduroam Service Manager, Jisc
