Projects
Ongoing
We are thrilled to announce that the IDEA Network has received funding from Scotland’s Future Series for a timely project dedicated to shaping Scotland’s Ethical Digital Nation.
Our project will feature two key events. The first, “The Role of Universities in the Ethical Digital Nation,” will take place on 25th October 2024 at the University of St Andrews. This event will bring together academics, policy makers, and community leaders to explore how universities can lead the way in ethical digital transformation through their research and educational contributions.
The second event, scheduled for December 13, 2024, will focus on co-designing ethical digital solutions with community involvement. This session will unite community leaders, academics, and industry professionals to collaboratively develop inclusive, user-centred digital interventions.
These events are critical for addressing today’s digital challenges and advancing discussions on digital ethics. They aim to align the University’s digital research strategy with national priorities, enhance interdisciplinary collaborations, and foster connections that will influence future research, education, and policy.
Following these events, we will produce a white paper detailing actionable steps for realising the vision of an Ethical Digital Nation. This paper will highlight opportunities for universities to collaborate with the government, private sector, and civil society.
Stay tuned to our blog for updates on how you can engage with these pivotal discussions!
Background
Scotland’s Digital Strategy introduces the concept of an Ethical Digital Nation as one that realises the full potential of digital technologies while avoiding negative social and ecological impacts that all too often accompany them. Digital services need to be shaped in such a way that Scotland’s people can trust them and use them confidently.
The Scottish Government’s Digital Directorate commissioned an expert group and public engagement to develop recommendations and a framework of digital ethics for Scotland. The report on Building Trust in the Digital Era spells out the need for “ethics [to sit] at the front and centre of our decision-making, across government, private sector, civil society and as citizens.” A noticeable absence from this list is the (higher) education sector.
The Scotland’s Future Series at the University of St Andrews aims to contribute to “developing Scotland’s future by enabling our staff and students to contribute to and facilitate wider discussions.” We have received seed-funding to run a series of events to develop a view on the role that universities can play in fostering the Ethical Digital Nation as well as the role they must play as entities within it.
Universities punch well above their weight in terms of the impact they have on Scotland’s society and economy (e.g. [1]). Through their research and education function, they are uniquely well placed to contribute to ideas and technologies for realising the Ethical Digital Nation.
However, in these uncertain times they face significant challenges, not just but also not least in terms of their economic outlook (e.g. [2]). The impacts of the COVID pandemic, of wars and increasing geo-political tensions, increasing partisanship in many societies, as well as specific threats to academic freedoms threaten their future position and demand a reasoned response. Their digital strategies are an important part of this.
Did you know that you can edit Wikipedia and her sister projects? Would you like to learn how to contribute your expertise to the world’s largest encyclopedia? Would you like lots of support along the way, as you plug knowledge gaps and tackle digital poverty? If so, join us as one of the first Digital Inclusion WikiConnect participants.
What is the project all about?
Digital Inclusion WikiConnect aims to foster collaboration between staff and students at the University of St Andrews and promote inclusive practices and digital inclusion through the creation and editing of Wikipedia articles relevant to digital poverty and/or your area of expertise. By engaging participants in this event, we seek to increase student engagement, raise awareness about the importance of digital inclusion, particularly for marginalised communities, and celebrate good intergenerational practices within our university. It is supported by the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Fund, School of Computer Science, CS EDI Committee, and SACHI, and led by the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility in Open Knowledge Network (IDEA Network for short!)Dates for your diary
The project will kick off with an onsite launch event on Wednesday 11 September, followed by online editing sessions supported by our EDI Engagement Facilitators at times convenient to the group. There will also be asynchronous resources available throughout to support your editing. The project will culminate in an onsite event on Wednesday 27 November to celebrate your achievements.FAQs
How and why would I sign up?
Only 32 spaces are available (16 students and 16 staff) for this pilot phase and they will be first come, first served. We will also have a waiting list in case spaces become available. To find out more about the benefits of taking part and to sign up, please complete our sign up form and we will be in touch ASAP if you have been awarded a space and/or are on our waiting list.Do I need to be a wiki contributor already?
Absolutely not. We will support you every step of the way, from signing up as an editor to publishing your first article, and all the steps inbetween.
I’m not an academic; can I still be involved?
Absolutely. This is open to all staff at the University, regardless of job family.I am a PhD student; do I count as staff or student on this project?
For the purposes of this project, we will be classing PhD students as students.We are thrilled to announce our collaboration on the “New Scots Digital Connect” project, a transformative initiative aimed at enhancing digital and life skills for disadvantaged communities in Edinburgh. This project will deliver ten weekly workshops focused on crucial areas such as internet navigation, email management, online security, and effective social media use. Participants will also benefit from hands-on sessions on digital privacy, introductory use of artificial intelligence, and collaborative knowledge-sharing.
The program will cover a Wikipedia editing training led by the IDEA Network to enhance digital literacy and encourage collaborative knowledge sharing.
This initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals by advancing quality education and reducing inequalities. It aims to strengthen connections between the university and local communities.
The project is Supported by the Community Grants Scheme at the University of Edinburgh and led by Science Ceilidh in partnership with the Multi-Cultural Family Base, Lirio Academy, and the IDEA Network.
Stay tuned to our blog for updates on this impactful initiative and ways you can get involved!
More projects
For more about projects, please visit our project page on Wikipedia.