The integration of technology in education is no longer a luxury but a fundamental right. High-quality, technology-driven education holds the potential to transform lives and foster social mobility, yet technology usage remains vastly unequal worldwide, potentially causing further disparity within education.Elizabeth Ellis, Head of School of Digital Education at Arden University, discusses the impact that a technology-inclusive approach to education could have in bridging the gap in access to high-quality learning experiences.We already know the advantages that digital education possesses. It can allow those who have different learning needs and requirements to still progress with their education, it can expose students to industries they may not be able to gain work experience with prior to specialising, and it can offer personalised and flexible learning opportunities. But importantly, technology could close the gaps in education across the world, as well as offer students the ability to gain a more global perspective within their industry, while improving digital literacy on a global scale – a concern that has been growing over the past decade.But the use of technology in educational institutions differs greatly among establishments and regions. While some institutions make good use of technology to improve teaching, learning and general administrative processes, others may be unable to do so – often due to factors such as lack of resources, money or the time to adopt new processes. Other places – such as longstanding universities that have been built on tradition – can be resistant to change and may have a lack of expertise when it comes to being digital-first.Digital education does helpEdTech has the ability to democratise education and personalise learning, releasing students from the school-based systems that can be considered as constraining – especially for those with different learning abilities and needs. At the moment, the reality is that many educational institutions are using technology to implement stronger levels of automation and homogenise the student experience.But research indicates that students’ learning outcomes improve when gaining knowledge assisted by technology. One of the most significant benefits of EdTech is the increased engagement and motivation it can provide to students. This is partially due to technology promoting student-centred learning practices, where the focus of instruction shifts from the teacher to the student. This allows students to develop autonomy and independence as they become responsible for their own learning path.On top of this, research has shown that students value a personalised and collaborative relationship with their university, which gives them confidence that their educational interests are taken into account. Technology can help here to ensure student needs are met on a wider scale. So just like flexible working is becoming more and more popular, technology can allow for ‘flexible learning’. This widens access to education, especially for those who may not be able to physically attend university, for example.The global barriers. There remain to be many barriers when it comes to digital education. The Department for Education in the UK released its own strategy for reaching the potential of technology in education, stating that they “recognise that teachers, lecturers and education leaders often face a range of barriers to capitalising on the opportunities presented by technology.”But challenges extend further than the UK. In fact, a UNESCO report argued that “unprecedented” dependence on technology due to the pandemic, which intended to ensure that children could continue their schooling, had worsened disparities and caused learning loss for hundreds of millions of students around the world, including in Kenya, Brazil, Britain and the United States.There are concerns that the move to remote education led to inequalities in access to learning, resulting in digital i...

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