On February 20th, the Institute of European Studies in collaboration with the Center for Portuguese Studies hosted Miguel Cordeiro, the CEO of Portuguese-based Media Invest and the director MyBusiness.com for an audience of 15. As an entrepreneur in the digital sector, Cordeiro dove into the concept of a “digital divide” between nations, communities, and groups of people when it comes to the growing gap of technological resources, education, support, and availability. He defined digital inclusion as the “effort to ensure that all individuals and communities, including those traditionally marginalized or underserved, have access and the capability to use digital technologies.” Digital inclusion has become crucial in the push for both social and economic inclusion. Through his presentation, Cordeiro made clear that among many other reasons, inclusivity and equality, the possibility of remote work, and the push for sustainability are all reasons why it is critical to address this gap.
Afterwards, Cordeiro emphasized how the digital divide impacts marginalized communities. From low income, unemployed, and homeless people to minorities, elderly, and educationally disadvantaged, this digital divide is affecting a majority of people across the world if they identify with one of these groups. The solution that Cordeiro highlighted was the Pact for Skills, an engagement and governance program that lays out a framework aiming to support private and public organizations through “upskilling and reskilling” methods. After listing many more alternative solutions, Corderio emphasized the importance of promoting technological inclusion across all peoples.