With End Digital Poverty Day approaching, now feels like a good time to reflect on our progress towards digital equity at The University of Manchester. 

Digital inclusion or equity is defined by the United Nations as “equitable, meaningful, and safe access to use, lead, and design of digital technologies, services, and associated opportunities for everyone, everywhere.”   

The prevalence of student poverty and how dependent some students are on having access to on campus facilities, such as devices, software and wifi, highlighted during the pandemic, continues to be heightened by the cost-of-living crisis.  

It is fair to say there is much work still to be done, but over the past 12 months, we have set our course for the way ahead with Senate’s endorsement of our new Digital Equity Charter co-owned by the University and the Students’ Union.  

An important step in our continuing journey towards ensuring an inclusive, teaching, learning and student experience, as called for in Our Future, the Charter sets out our commitment to ensuring all students have equitable access to development opportunities, hardware, software, connectivity and study space to effectively engage with their learning and establishes the expectations on students to engage with the opportunities available.    

“The Students’ Union Officer Team believes that ‘no student should be disadvantaged by not having access to software, hardware, connectivity due to barriers to inclusion’. This is why we’re excited to see the launch of the Digital Equity Charter. We feel that it’s an important step towards giving all students access to the technology to support their learning whilst at Manchester.    

"As Officers, we have a key role in advocating for students’ interests in every space we’re in and ensuring that the charter is brought to life. As part of this, we will ensure we continue to advocate for more accessible study spaces on campus where software required by courses is available to all. Alongside this, we will work with teams to upskill our Academic Representatives on the importance of digital skills and increase awareness throughout our channels.” 

Students Union Officers Katie Jackson (Education) and Aisha Akram (Wellbeing & Liberation) and Education Manager, Emma Bramwell  

“The Digital Equity Charter is a brilliant example of our University and Students’ Union working together to enable all students to succeed. At Manchester we welcome students from many different backgrounds and lived experience, and we want to ensure we support them to fulfil their potential. In an increasingly digital world, the new Charter is a vital step towards this commitment.” 

-Professor April McMahon, Vice-President Teaching, Learning and Students 

Next steps 

Looking at the different approaches, elements and services that contribute to digital equity, it is clear that a collaborative cross institutional approach is required to enable the creation and implementation of the Charter. Sincere thanks to the membership of the working group and to all the students and colleagues who helped to shape and progress the Charter to date and to all of those who will contribute to its embedding.  

Communications will be circulated to staff sharing further information to support the launch of the Charter and to students at the start of the new academic year.  

Professor Jane Mooney,

Flexible Learning Academic Lead for Digital Skills and Literacy, and Chair of the Flexible Learning Digital Equity Working Group