2024 Research Placement Project
About The Project
Digital transformation has been at the forefront of multiple organisations over the last three decades. This has had a profound impact on service delivery, automation, access to information, the ability to communicate electronically improving efficiency, and productivity. However, the vast majority of those who are expected to use these digital technologies only had access to technology within in school settings in the late eighties to present day, this has resulted in millions of persons who do not know how to use digital tools for their day-to-day activities such as work, banking, accessing benefits and other support, etc. This disproportionately impacts marginalised groups, particularly those with Severe Multiple Disadvantage (SMD) by limiting peoples’ ability to gain the benefits of the digital revolution. The result of this digital exclusion can include facing higher costs, lack of access to information, and lack of access to essential services.
This placement will explore how digital inclusion (or exclusion) is being managed and delivered and the issues that persons without access may face currently and in the future.
Project Aims
Within this placement, there will be a key focus on. marginalised groups their needs within community settings and within the home and small to medium enterprises the challenges of Not using technology for those who could well benefit from this.
It will look at the current provision within the wider communities of Derby in Nottinghamshire. This region is now known as the East Midlands combined County authority (EMCCA). What community access is available, highlighting good practice and how this is used. plans for the future and some recommendations to improve on any provisions.
This placement research will also explore the regional and national agencies lobbying for Promoting digital access and it will briefly look at how other councils, charities and Combined Authorities nationally are engaging communities digitally and future plans including strategies, how they are using ICT day to day plus ensuring that they representative of filtering this to marginalised groups that may not have access to resources, skills and the Internet.
Finally, there will be a survey in the questionnaire and in addition two case studies which look at the benefits and disadvantages of those who have access and those that don’t additionally this will allow the research to make a number of recommendations about how this can be developed so that there are increased provisions available within local settings beneficial to those who currently do not have access.
The Project Team
- Placement Candidate: Vanessa Natasha Johnson
- Lead Supervisor: Dr Steve Iafrati
- Co-Supervisor: Dr Geraldine Brady
- Community Supervisor: Jess Smith, Framework