This week, I read a report from the European Commission on the potential for digital learning opportunities to provide access to education for the most vulnerable in our societies. Looking at migrants and refugees, the report found that digital learning opportunities could be a key way to foster inclusion of individuals, helping improve their language skills and knowledge about their host country and society, and also find employment.

Casting our gaze wider, digital learning opportunities provide a way for those at the margins of our societies to integrate successfully into society and the labour market. Compared with formal education programmes, alternative digital learning opportunities are cost-effective, scalable and flexible ways to develop skills and opportunities. However, whereas digital learning opportunities were intended initially to democratise education through equal access, they have oftentimes bypassed vulnerable groups and low levels of school attendance and high levels of dropout rates are still prevalent among Roma communities, migrants and those experiencing poverty and homelessness.

I am pleased to say that many of our members provide online training and e-learning opportunities, geared towards access to the labour market, inclusion and social participation for those in need. For instance, Digniti Omnia, a project from the Church of Sweden, encourages empowerment and social inclusion of vulnerable EU citizens through digital communication for e-inclusion; working with computers, Skype and applications. Important work still remains to be done on making free, mobile, and accessible learning opportunities a reality for all, yet building on these possibilities for participation and impact of learning opportunities is a worthy commitment.

Have a good weekend,
Sarah