Colleges leading the way to close the digital divide in FE

Basingstoke College of Technology, the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group and South Staffordshire College have been announced as the first Digital Insight Hubs – a new initiative created through the strategic partnership between Ufi and the Association of Colleges (AoC).

Development of the Digital Insight Hubs comes in response to key findings from Digital baseline: exploring the use of technology in FE, which highlighted persistent inequalities in digital confidence, access, training and infrastructure. The findings were clear: colleges need practical support, shared learning and space to collaborate if the sector is to build a stronger, fairer digital foundation.

The Digital Insight Hubs are designed to do exactly that. Each hub will act as a catalyst for collaboration – opening their doors to peers, sharing effective approaches, and supporting colleges to take the next steps in their digital journey.

Through:

• Digital Insight Days where colleges can see real practice in action
• online sessions focused on practical tools and ideas
• peer mentoring and ongoing support

…each institution will help build collective digital capability across the FE community. The hubs are about progress at every level: strengthening staff confidence, improving learner experiences, and accelerating the adoption of vocational technology so that more adults can gain the skills they need to succeed.

Speaking on the launch, Cath Sezen, Director of Education Policy at AoC, said the hubs reflect a sector eager to share expertise and embrace innovation:

“There is a real appetite to work together to embrace the opportunities that digital technologies offer – to enhance the student and staff experience while reducing workload.”

Anthony Painter, Ufi’s Director of Strategic Engagement, emphasised the wider impact:

“We are seeing incredible energy and leadership in FE when it comes to digital innovation and adoption. The Digital Insight Hubs will show what’s possible when colleges collaborate with purpose – sharing what works, building confidence, and putting practical digital tools into the hands of staff and learners.

By growing this collective knowledge across the FE sector, we can accelerate meaningful digital transformation and ensure every vocational learner benefits from high‑quality, future‑focused education.”

The Digital Insight Hubs form part of the ongoing Strategic Partnership between Ufi and the Association of Colleges, supporting Further Education colleges to deploy the best digital tools and pedagogies.

Together, we aim to build capacity and confidence in the use of VocTech across FE colleges, by embedding behaviours and strategies that can support innovation in how tech is used to enhance teaching, learning, and business support.