Birkbeck, University of London
Enhancing the digital skills of Birkbeck's mature learners, preparing them for future employment opportunities in the digital and technology sectors
The Hg Foundation has partnered with The Access Foundation to support Birkbeck, University of London to boost digital skills development.
Birkbeck is the educational home to one of the most diverse communities of learners; 40% are from households with an income below £25,000, 78% are juggling studies with work and caring responsibilities, 48% of undergraduates are from Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, and the average age of students is 35 years old.
The partnership will be implemented through The Access to Digital Skills and Careers Programme (ADSCP), designed to create pathways to digital and technology careers for Birkbeck students, particularly for underrepresented groups.
The ADSCP consists of three key pillars: a Career Accelerator bootcamp, a Tech Skills certification scheme, and an Access Tech micro-placement initiative. The programme launched last year with funding support from The Access Foundation. In this pilot year, the programme supported 328 students to improve their digital skills and explore careers in the technology sector, of which 90% of participants had at least one marker of socio-economic disadvantage.
“The Access to Digital Skills and Careers Programme has boosted my confidence and made me more eager to volunteer in other tech related roles at my place of work.”
Chima, Birkbeck - MA Language Teaching/Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
“I wholeheartedly recommend the Access to Digital Skills and Careers Programme, which has helped me land my first internship and has played a key role in enhancing my employability in the data field.”
Anna, Birkbeck - BSc Data Science and Computing
