1. 4th European Congress on e-Inclusion
Partnerships for a Digital Europe
5-6 November 2012, Central Brussels, Belgium
A multi-stakeholder approach for
digital inclusion: Ghent’s ‘Digitaal
Talent’ policy program
Ilse Mariën
iMinds SMIT VUB

2. Digital inclusion
2-folded
 Inclusive ICT
Lower immediate ICT-related barriers
 ICT for broader inclusion objectives
Participation, social inclusion, empowerment
Identify barriers at both levels
Analyse & evaluate current actions
Translate into digital inclusion policy framework

3. Ghent 2020
Holistic approach
Integration in many policy fields
(employment, education…)
Multilevel (public access, skills acquisition, help
desk, train-the-trainer, awareness…)
High focus on citizens’ participation
Alignment with Digital Agenda 2020

4. Ghent 2020
Sustainable, structural & innovation
4 pillars – Knowledge, Social & Economic
Sustainability, Participation
Activities – Central goals, long-term, structural
Actions – Specific goals, short term, innovation
oriented
Research oriented – follow up & engagement

5. Ghent Digitaal Talent program
DTP – Digitaal Talent Punten
100 DTP’s in Ghent
Public access
Coaching
Training opportunities
Support – communication / technical

6. Ghent Digitaal Talent program
Digikriebels
Intergenerational
Toddlers (5-6yrs)
Parents
Grandparents
Collaboration with welfare & education

7. MIDIS – Digital inclusion in cities

8. MIDIS - results
11% No Internet access at home
 88% never uses the internet
72% Needs help using the internet
 3% does not find this help
89% Develops skills via trial & error
45% Uses public computer spaces

9. Ghent Digitaal Talent program
Recup PC
Pilot project
17 families in poverty
All-round digital inclusion approach
Long-term – 1 year
More info: Telenetfoundation.be

10. Ghent Living Lab

11. Conclusion
Possible improvements
Visibility of training opportunities for larger public
Collaboration with employment – social economy
Increase public private partnerships
Well-defined all round approach
Future oriented strategy
Willingness to collaborate & integrate
Support mechanisms for third sector
Continuous openness towards improvement & new
approaches

12. Contact
Ilse Mariën
ilse.marien@vub.ac.be
Pleinlaan 9, 1050 Brussel
+32 496 28 24 88
@ilsemarien
Presentation, report and paper available at
www.ilsemarien.com