NIACE welcomes Digital Britain report Tuesday, June 16, 2009 - 16:50

NIACE welcomes the publication of the government's Digital Britain White Paper published on Tuesday 16 June 2009.

It provides a framework for shaping adult learning opportunities resulting from the development of the country's communications infrastructure.

This has profound implications for:

• ICT as a skill for life (through Baroness Estelle Morris's independent review of ICT user skills)
• public service broadcasting
• media literacy
• digital inclusion, participation and engagement - via digital test beds and the opportunities they will bring for community cohesion

Alastair Clark, NIACE Senior Programme Director for Digital Learning, said:

"It is crucial that adults have opportunities to learn to access, understand and confidently use technology and Estelle Morris's review has presented a useful framework for addressing the needs of adults currently excluded from the digital world.

Digital industries report that they need 130,000 new entrants every year for the next 10 years and 20% of companies say that they have difficulties with recruitment. It is clear that many of these posts will need to be filled by adults who are currently in the labour market, and who need opportunities to upgrade their skills with access to flexible learning.

The Universal Service Commitment for broadband to all by 2012 will be especially welcomed by adults in isolated rural locations for whom online learning is a practical and flexible option. We need to be vigilant to be sure that these learners also have affordable access to the high speed ‘Next Generation' broadband as it becomes available and presents even more exciting learning opportunities."

As NIACE is able to assess the implications, further analysis pieces will be added.