John Cullinan|Darragh Flannery|Jason Harold|Seán Lyons|Dónal Palcic
The disconnected: COVID-19 and disparities in access to quality broadband for higher education students
Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway|University of Limerick|Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway|Economic and Social Research Institute|Trinity College Dublin|University of Limerick
abstract covid19 pandemic forced many higher education institutions heis across world cancel facetoface teaching close campus facilities displace staff students work learn home given persistent nature pandemic many heis continued deliver courses online andor use blended learning approach however concerns around differences student access digital learning resources home including high quality broadband connectivity important since variation connectivity may impact type onlineblended model faculty deliver constrain student engagement online content context paper combines national data domiciles students enrolled irish heis detailed spatial data broadband coverage estimate number higher education students risk poor access high quality internet connectivity overall finds oneinsix students come areas poor broadband coverage large disparities geography hei also finds students poorest broadband coverage areas likely socioeconomically disadvantaged result paper recommends heis use detailed registration data help identify support atrisk students particular results suggest heis may need prioritise access campus facilities services less welloff students living poor broadband coverage areas