Author: Katie McNeil
Date published: January 14, 2025
In today's digital economy, access to technology is access to opportunity. If technology and digital skills are out of reach, high-paying careers are too. It's a digital divide domino effect that higher education institutions urgently need to address. With technology solutions built for higher education, Verizon can help build more digital equity and inclusion on campuses.
Digital inclusion in higher education is the effort to ensure all students, regardless of socioeconomic background, technological proficiency, or disability, have equal access to technology in their education. The foundation of a digitally inclusive campus is equitable access to information and communication technologies (ICTs) and reliable high-speed internet. But digital inclusion encompasses much more than hardware, it also includes digital skills training and accessible curriculum.
To fully participate in our increasingly digital world, students need the tech-savvy necessary to keep up. Inequitable access to technology and digital literacy skills only widens the existing digital divide. Students with easier access to devices and digital skills have easier access to higher-paying jobs.
According to research from the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, jobs that incorporate higher levels of digital content pay more—in fact, for every 10% increase in ICT task intensity, the average U.S. worker's salary increases by 4%.
Perpetuating a culture of technological "haves" and "have nots" ultimately translates to economic advancement "haves" and "have nots." Prioritizing digital inclusion in higher education helps enable all students to fully participate, succeed, and thrive in society after graduation. It’s important to foster digital equity and inclusion throughout all stages of education processes. The following helps to answer the question, why is digital inclusion important, especially in higher education.
The foundation of digital inclusion in higher education is access to technology and reliable high-speed internet. Whether through 1:1 laptop programs, Bring Your Own Device policies, or on-campus computer labs, digital devices need to be accessible to all. But these devices are only part of the solution. Reliable high-speed internet is the backbone of today's communication and information sharing which is why digital inclusion in education is vastly important. A poorly connected campus can limit students' ability to learn and communicate. High-speed internet for every student can help level the playing field.
In addition to providing equitable access to technology, digitally inclusive campuses also prioritize developing students' digital literacy skills. Essential skills such as using productivity tools, conducting online research, critically evaluating information, and understanding digital citizenship are necessary for success in the modern workforce and society at large.
Educational technology not only enhances learning, but it also exposes students to the tools and modalities they will use in their careers after college. Beyond word processing and online research, faculty can leverage immersive technologies like online simulations and virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) to facilitate active learning and reach all students and all learning styles.
Campuses need robust support and training to ensure students are receiving the support they need to fully benefit from technology. This can be proactive (workshops, tutorials) as well as reactive (tech support). Digital equity and inclusion on campuses offer support at every stage of learning. One 2023 digital inclusion pilot found the use of training support had a big impact on the success of the initiative.
A key characteristic of digital inclusion in higher education is the universal design of learning materials. Campuses need to ensure all learning resources are accessible to students with disabilities and diverse learning needs. This involves ensuring that digital content is compatible with screen readers, providing captions and transcripts for multimedia resources, and considers the principles of universal design in creating online courses.
The following best practices can enhance digital inclusion on campus.
Ensure your college's technological infrastructure, including internet connectivity, is robust and reliable across campus. This includes providing high-speed internet access in all areas, including classrooms, libraries, and student residences. Innovative technologies like fixed wireless internet and private 5G networks can help ensure underserved populations have equal access to high-speed broadband internet and the innovative learning modalities it supports.
According to research from Educause, four out of five students connect two or more devices—typically a smartphone and a laptop—to campus Wi-Fi daily. Nearly all (99.7%) students use a smartphone, and 81% responded they use it for learning at least once a week. Meet students where they are with a mobile-first mentality. Optimize learning platforms, websites and resources to be mobile-friendly so all students can access and engage with content using their smartphones.
Accommodate students with varying technology preferences by offering a BYOD policy. Build your digital infrastructure to support a variety of devices and platforms. For students without personal devices, lending programs can help fill the gaps. For example, the University of Washington offers a free, student-led device lending program, the Student Technology Loan Program (STLP), to eliminate barriers to technology access.
A strong internet connection is essential for learning both on- and off-campus. Students who lack reliable internet access outside of campus are limited in learning time. Collaborate with internet service providers to explore options such as subsidized or discounted internet plans for students, or provide mobile hotspots for students for loan or rental. The Verizon Digital Inclusion program provides wireless connectivity for colleges and universities serving eligible users to advance learning.
The digitalization of U.S. jobs (the level and importance of digital content for an occupation) continues to rise and has exponentially grown since the pandemic moved many jobs remote. To be competitive in today's workforce, students need to develop robust digital skills. Higher education institutions can be digitally inclusive by providing comprehensive digital skills training and resources to students. Offer workshops, online tutorials or courses that cover essential computer skills, software applications, information literacy and digital citizenship. Ensure these resources are accessible to all students, including those with disabilities.
Ensure that all digital resources and platforms are designed with accessibility in mind. Follow accessibility standards and guidelines to make digital content inclusive for students with disabilities, including support for screen readers, captioning for videos and intuitive navigation.
Establish dedicated support services for technology-related issues. Offer technical assistance, help desks or online support portals where students can seek guidance and troubleshooting for hardware, software or connectivity problems.
The digital divide hinders college students from fully engaging in college life and in learning. Ultimately, this limited access to education has the potential to translate into limited access to economic advancement. Digital inclusion in higher education is essential to equip students with the skills, resources, and opportunities needed for academic success, career readiness, and active participation in an increasingly digital society.
From 5G speed powering immersive VR/AR experiences to voice and collaboration technologies supporting communication and hotspots connecting underserved communities, Verizon is committed to digital inclusion in higher education.
Learn more about how our higher education solutions can help you build a digital inclusion on and off campus.
The author of this content is a paid contributor for Verizon.
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