Seminar examines Digital Britain report Friday, July 24, 2009 - 09:24

A NIACE seminar - Digital Britain: Implications for adult learners and providers - looking at both the opportunities and challenges that Digital Britain presents for adult learners, is being held today in Leicester.

Rachel Thomson, NIACE Senior Programme Director, said:

"When Lord Carter's Digital Britain report was published, it drew together a number of important policy issues which will impact directly on all UK citizens. Whilst NIACE welcomes the potential benefits of Britain developing world class digital networks, there are real challenges if we are to ensure that all adults have the access to learning they need so that they can keep pace with change."

Digital Britain: Implications for adult learners and providers will explore the following questions and more:

• How can we engage with the 17 million people who are still excluded from digital technology?
• How will the nine hours of Digital Life Skill entitlement be funded and how can we be sure that the support will meet the needs of people who have been the last to join the digital world?
• How will we make sure adults have the skills needed to flourish in a digital world?
• How will teachers of adults maintain their knowledge and skills in the world of increasing technological diversity?
• Will provision of superfast broadband to urban areas actually lead us to a new urban / rural digital divide?

The seminar will be repeated on Friday 31 July 2009 and is for people with a professional or personal interest in the impact of digital technologies on the future of adult learning in Britain. This includes adult learning practitioners across all sectors, policymakers and opinion-formers, strategists and managers.

Photo created by Declan TM and used under a Creative Commons Licence