
Singapore Management University and AliBaba Cloud to upskill workers in digital technologies
The Singapore Management University (SMU) and Alibaba Cloud will launch a series of courses to upskill more than 1,000 working professionals in Singapore, starting March 2019. The curriculum is designed specifically to empower SMEs, aiming to equip businesses with the…
Costa Rica to provide free Internet in bid to reduce the country’s digital divide
Costa Rica has launched an initiative called “Espacios Públicos Conectados” (Connected Public Spaces) to reduce the country’s digital divide through FONATEL, the National Telecommunications Fund. The objective of this programme is to bring free Internet to 170 public spaces throughout…
India to establish 100,000 digital villages in remote and rural areas
In its latest budget, the government of India announced its plans to convert 100,000 villages into ‘digital villages’ over the next five years, enhancing the digital and financial inclusion of the country’s remote and rural areas. This will be achieved…

University of Kansas researchers implement digital literacy programme designed for low-income, minority senior citizens
Researchers at Kansas University’s Center for Digital Inclusion have implemented a digital literacy programme designed specifically for low-income, minority senior citizens. Often the target of online disinformation and scams, this group stands to benefit the most from digital literacy skills…

Partnership to equip 5,000 unemployed young people with digital skills in South Africa
The Digital Skills Partnership was launched in South Africa in October 2018 to connect youth excluded from the economy with digital and tech jobs. The founding organisations include Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, Cape Innovation & Technology Initiative (CiTi), Explore Data…

Free tech support in Washington, D.C. is improving the digital inclusion of lower-income households
The Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO) of Washington, D.C. has launched “All Hands on Tech,” a publicly funded programme in which local volunteers and the city’s own technicians help residents fix their ICT devices for free. Two pilot events were…

‘Smart homes’ to help older persons acquire digital skills in the UK
A number of ‘smart homes’ enabling older people to improve their digital skills through peer-to-peer training will be established in West Essex, UK. Led by Uttlesford Council for Voluntary Service, the scheme identifies older people who will become ‘digital boomers’,…
Report suggests tips for promoting effective use of technology in US schools
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) released a guide to help United States administrations distribute funds from Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants. The report presents a series of recommendations and example use cases. One of the three…

Digital literacy is one of the top skills required by Canadian employers
CivicAction, LinkedIn Canada and Knockri released a report called “Now Hiring: The Skills Companies Want that Young Canadians Need,” which identifies six foundational skills widely required for new employees: communication, growth mindset, collaboration, empathy, creativity, and digital literacy. The report…

South African organizations are called upon to offer internship opportunities to young ICT students
The Cape Innovation and Technology Initiative’s (CiTi) Tech Career Accelerator called for local organizations from Cape Town to offer graduate internship opportunities that enable students to improve their ICT skills. CiTi has trained 1,889 young South Africans for the tech…