Madelon van Oostrom

Digital Literacy and Inclusion Research Group

The Digital Literacy and Inclusion research group, based within the Digital Transformation Research Group, works across disciplines on solutions for the digital divide and digital inequality, including through co-creation and participatory action research. Several perspectives are key:

1. Improving accessibility through accessible design and development of digital technology;

2. Motivating (life long) learning of critical digital skills; and

3. Improving the connection between existing support structures, learning resources (including digital tools and environments), and residents with low digital skills.

At a regional level, the research group collaborates with the Digital Literacy Coalition, a network organization in which Hanze plays an active role. Its mission is to help residents improve their digital literacy and skills, along with the University of Groningen, the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Biblionet Groningen, and many other local organizations, including the Digital Academy of the Northern Netherlands (Dental Academies Noord-Nederland) and local parties. Their approach is based on the question: What interventions can be easily designed and experimented with locally?

At a national level, Hanze and this research group have been affiliated with the National Alliance for Digital Society since May 2023, whose mission we endorse and to which we contribute our research.

At an international level, the research group collaborates with colleagues and students in several Erasmus+ initiatives, including the IGNITION Cooperation Partnership under the auspices of the Stars European University Alliance.

The Digital Literacy and Inclusion research group led by Madelon is involved in various projects focused on the aforementioned perspectives. Some examples include:

• Digital literacy coalition  
  In the Northern Netherlands, many people struggle with limited digital skills, which hinders their participation in society and impedes broad prosperity. To address this problem, the Digital Literacy Coalition, with the support of the University of the North, is developing a regional research network in which Hanze University of Applied Sciences collaborates with the University of Groningen, the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), and NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, among others.
• Accessible Digital Care living lab
  A living lab for accessible healthcare technology is being established with the Digital Literacy Coalition partners. The network organization is supporting SMEs in piloting eHealth innovations.
• Health Tech in Society
  In this long term program we are working together to make technological innovations suitable and accessible for people with a lower socio-economic status (SES). Our aim is to promote their health and well-being through learning communities with SMEs, health care organizations, patient organizations and students and researchers.
• Digital Hero
  This project, funded by the KIEM program, investigates how a digital or gamified solution can help vulnerable young people become more aware of the risks of social media, specifically in the area of ​​online finance.
• IGNITION
  In the Erasmus+ project Ignition, led by Hanze, the cooperation partnership aims to enhance digital literacy in higher education. To this end, increasing awareness of digital literacy and stimulating the digital competence development of lecturers, faculty, and students, are key pillars for the project’s activities Partners include knowledge institutions from Ireland, Germany, and Portugal. 
• Stars EU Alliance
  As part of this Erasmus-funded European University Alliance, the research group coordinates a task focused on mastering green and digital competencies within higher education, thereby contributing to twin transition in Europe.