Digital inclusion strategies are measures taken to curb what is referred to as the digital divide.

The digital dive is the gap between peoples with varying access to information technology. It
stems from the reality that some peoples have more access to information technology than others
with some having limited or no access at all. This also includes the imbalance in physical access
to technology, the resources to access it and the skills needed to effectively participate as a
digital citizen in a digital world. Strategies of digital inclusion are utilized to counteract this
reality and ensure that all persons have access to digital information to enhance equality in
society.

Digital inclusion involves working with communities to address the above issues and has three
major dimensions. These are digital skills, connectivity, accessibility and digital literacy which is
an extension of the first dimension. Digital skills is the ability of an individual to use computers
and the internet and this is one of the biggest challenges towards enhanced digital inclusion.
Many people lack the requisite skills to operate and navigate a computer. Connectivity on the
other hand is about access to the internet and this stems from the lack of infrastructure being in
place for individuals to access the internet such as Wi-Fi etc. Lastly is accessibility which are the
services that ought to be designed to meet the needs of all users including those who are
dependent of assistive technology to better access digital services for disabled persons.

Digital inclusion strategies include starting with the end mind when targeting a group. This is
taking as a starting point the potential outcomes for a targeted group based on economic, social,
cultural and personal well-being. Additionally, one should be aware of any hindrances that a
targeted group may face when developing interventions by taking the complex reality of a group
into account. In some cases, the hindrances occur in different phases of access to information
technology, therefore, one must determine in which phase a target group faces the greatest
barrier in accessing digital information. Moreover, in addition to determining where the greatest
barriers occur, policies must be put in places to combat digital exclusion that curb all phases of
access at the same time. The phases to be focused on are attitude and motivation, material access,
skills and use and they all have a sequential and conditional nature.
Other strategies of digital inclusion include taking a multi-stakeholder approach by bringing to
the table various actors and institutions in our society including governments, the ICT industry,
ICT training, software and content publishers, labor organizations, schools and university such as
our university Middlesex university, libraries, public access centers and support groups with
access to the target group. Additionally, strategies such as striving for low-threshold access to
interventions, creating awareness about the existence of such interventions, evaluating the
interventions, considering interventions a development process as a unique perspective,
remembering that using a technology is not an end itself but rather a means and lastly
recognizing that new technology does not automatically mean smart technology go along a way
in realizing digital inclusion for all.

When it comes to universities such as Middlesex University, digital inclusion strategies take
several forms. Thee include ensure that the student experience and student journey remain
uppermost in university priorities, investing in the skills of the university staff and students to
further enable them to make the most of digital enhancement, using a “digital first” approach to
delivering solutions for research, education and engagement rather than simply digitizing
existing practices. Other strategies at the university level include focusing on achieving the right
outcomes rather implementing specific technologies, embracing digital technologies that will
support the university institutional commitment to the ‘just transition’ and delivering Net Zero
ahead of 2045 and lastly supporting this through creating and delivering an enabling strategy for
digital inclusion for all university students.

At the governmental level, the Dubai government can implement the policy of digital inclusion
through the following strategies. These are expanding existing digital inclusion inventory and
mapping out resource capabilities, developing a system for keeping the inventory and mapping
out robust and up to date information, promoting the inventory, facilitating the ongoing
innovation techniques using this open data, conducting community forums and events aimed at
digital inclusion. Other strategies include hosting a “Dubai day of digital inclusion”, a marketing
campaign on digital inclusion programs, leveraging digital inclusion partners’ networks to
promote digital inclusion. Lastly, the Dubai government can recruit knowledgeable individuals
within the community to provide small group or one-on-one sessions of training.