Digital Poverty in the UK and its impact on higher education: a human rights approach

Baxter, Jacqueline and Hinton, Matthew (2025). Digital Poverty in the UK and its impact on higher education: a human rights approach. In: Baxter, Jacqueline; Selby-Fell, Helen and Gilbert, Andrew eds. Creativity and Critique in digital learning and teaching: Insights for learning design in business and law. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan (In press).

URL: https://link.springer.com/book/9783031680854

Abstract

In an increasingly digital world, access to technology and the internet has become crucial for educational success. However, a significant portion of the population, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, still lack adequate access to digital resources (Bach et al., 2018; Ruiu et al., 2023) This phenomenon, known as digital poverty, has far-reaching consequences, particularly in the realm of higher education This chapter examines the concept of digital poverty, its causes, and its impact on digital and blended learning, and examines the issue of digital access as a human right. In so doing, it explores the challenges that students facing digital poverty encounter in accessing online learning resources, participating in virtual classrooms, and engaging in remote academic activities (Ruiu et al., 2023). The chapter also discusses potential solutions to address the effects of digital poverty on students in higher education, emphasising the importance of policy interventions, institutional support, and collaboration between various stakeholders. Through analysis of existing literature and organisations looking to combat digital poverty, the chapter sheds light on the urgency of mitigating its effects, to ensure equitable access to higher education and promote academic success from an inclusive perspective (Donaghy et al., 2021).

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