Memorandum submitted by Skillset (DIW 09)

Introduction

Skillset is the Sector Skills Council for the Creative Media industries. Jointly funded by industry and government, our job is to make sure that the UK creative media industries have the right people, with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time, so that our industries remain competitive.

We are responsible for the following sectors: Publishing, Television, Film, Radio, Animation, Interactive Media, Computer Games, Photo Imaging, Facilities and Publishing.

We have offices in England (with representation in the 9 regions), Wales (Skillset Cymru), Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Skillset is one of the members of the Media Literacy Taskforce and signatory of the Media Literacy Chapter. We support the Media Literacy Taskforce's submission to the consultation on Delivering Digital Inclusion: An Action Plan.

The following submission was prepared mainly by the Skillset Cymru office and it presents additional information from a Welsh perspective, together with information on initiatives that Skillset Cymru is involved.

We also welcome the commitment in Digital Britain's interim report for future Digital Britain consultative events focusing on each Nation, including Wales.

Digital Inclusion in Wales

1. The recommendations of the Government's Digital Inclusion Action Plan, with respect to their application to Wales;

We firmly believe that media content has immense value in exciting people to venture online or to use digital technologies in Wales. The power of such content to improve the quality of people's lives and of the communities in which they live or of which they are a part is immeasurable.

The Welsh Assembly Government should see overcoming digital exclusion as a very serious and significant matter. It impinges on the economic, social, cultural and political life and health of Wales in the 21^st century. Unless the fullest potential of its citizens is released and harnessed, Wales will fall behind in both competitiveness and social cohesion and its cultural life will be out of touch with the widest possible views and ideas of its citizens. Strategic leadership and financial investment from government is therefore imperative.

2. The role, responsibilities and actions of the Government, the Welsh Assembly Government and local government in promoting digital inclusion, especially with regard to (a) education and young people; (b) access to services; and (c) availability and access for hard-to-reach groups.

a. Education, whether formal or informal, is clearly the most effective way of promoting digital inclusion. There is already much being done in schools in Wales that might be termed media literacy education but it is not necessarily known as such. The use of media should not be separated from other topics and subjects but become an integrated part of researching and communicating the fruits of study across the curriculum.

Training teachers to use media and online resources more specifically and in particular to bring their experience and knowledge of subjects to bear on information - found through searches for example - would help pupils to realise that discovering information is merely the precursor to evaluating it. Being media literate is not only having the skills to access and navigate technologies but also the capacity to assess critically the results and the effects such use enables.

To address the aforementioned issues, Skillset Cymru is involved in an exciting development with the Welsh Assembly Government, through the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS), to include the Principal Learning component of the Creative and Media Diplomas in England as an option within the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification.

The Creative and Media Diploma in England is a new, industry-led qualification and one of seventeen Diplomas to be introduced in the curriculum. By 2013, they will be a national entitlement for all 14 to 19 year olds in England. The introduction and phased roll out of the Welsh Baccalaureate Qualification (WBQ) has been a critical and successful contribution to addressing the priorities for 14-19 education and the wider skills agenda in Wales. Welsh policy shares the recognition of the value of industry-led qualifications and the contribution employer engagement can make to a more demand-led offer. For this reason, Welsh Assembly Government, through the Department for Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills (DCELLS), has proposed to include the Principal Learning component of the Diplomas as an option within the WBQ.

DCELLS recognises the important contribution the Diploma in England can make to successfully integrating the Principal Learning into the WBQ and supporting key strands of work such as employer engagement, Higher Education engagement and the integration of work-related learning.

Skillset, as the lead SSC for the Creative and Media Diploma, has been contracted by DCELLS to support the integration of the Principal Learning in Creative and Media into the WBQ.

b. We believe that the richness and variety of content which media literate people can access online is a huge incentive for people to engage with the internet. It is important therefore that content providers, as well as policy makers in Wales, ensure that the variety, quality and scale of the online experience are communicated as widely as is possible.

The model given in relation to RNIB Cymru 'ATIC' project in the Action Plan gives two useful pointers in terms of accessing services. Firstly that there is a need to involve local and community specific organisations that already have firm links with local people but with a national co-ordination and strategy behind them. And secondly, that the use of trained volunteers as 'champions' to back up and support packages of resources to be used for training purposes is very important. National and local media campaigns as well as the provision of resources via television, radio and online would support and supplement such an approach.

c. We believe that digital inclusion empowers those with differing cultural or ethnic backgrounds to develop their sense of community, network with others, or use online resources for communication and creative interaction as well as for accessing goods and services. While this aspect of personal expression may not necessarily be of first importance for all users its potential impact on content providers is significant. It would bring a range and diversity of voices, stories and viewpoints into the public space which might otherwise be lacking and over time alter the representation of the UK to itself.

3. The adequacy of technological infrastructure provision throughout Wales (including Broadband, wireless, mobile, digital TV and digital radio);

Apart from the technical, IT infrastructure, the concept of creating digital inclusion should expand to the ability to create the content and distribute in the digital platforms.

The Government's Digital Inclusion Action Plan has been proposed at a time of immense chance within the media industry in Wales. The speed of technological change and the imminence of digital switchover mean that the proposal from Ofcom's Review of Public Service Broadcasting will have a huge impact on the reshaping of public service provision in Wales and the future of general programming made for Wales.

A decline in Welsh public service content on digital platforms could limit the extent of Welsh people's digital inclusion and participation; it could have a detrimental effect on their sense of citizenship and lead to lack of engagement with Welsh culture.

In addition to the Ofcom review, Lord Carter's interim Digital Britain report outlines the future of communications technology in the UK and proposes universal access to broadband by 2012.

Wales needs to ensure it will be given the tools it needs to deliver this pledge. Wales currently has a higher percentage of people who can't get access to broadband.

4. The extent of digital exclusion (through lack of access, skills and/or motivation) throughout Wales compared to the regions of England, other nations in the UK and abroad;

See answer above.

5. The ways in which commercial and non-governmental organisations contribute to digital inclusion in Wales, and the opportunities available;

There are many examples of creative and critical media practice in the public realm which give opportunities for pupils and people of all ages to engage with media and to express themselves imaginatively. Both the BBC and Channel 4 offer many opportunities of this kind which are available to those living in Wales, while the BFI and BBFC websites support exploration of film issues and the UK Film Council supports numerous schemes - such as First Light (see www.firstlightmovies.com ) which is open to Welsh Participants.

The Film Agency for Wales's remit includes education activity linked to Film. The agency's core education activity is to support and facilitate exhibition venues, film societies and education providers with a remit to promote film literacy, to implement their audience development initiatives; and to listen to, identify and understand the needs and desires of this sector and to respond to those needs and desires. Of key importance is their financial support to formal and informal education initiatives, aimed at enhancing film literacy - exploring film language, cultural content and having the potential to excite an interest in specialist film - across any and all age groups across Wales. The Agency has also recently established a Film Club for schools in Wales - Film Club Wales which is a UK wide initiative aimed at developing film literacy and practical experience of filmmaking.

These cultural opportunities for becoming digitally included should not be overlooked as they often resonate powerfully with ordinary people's lives and experiences and may be a first point of interest and entry to the digital world.

6. The risks to citizens (in particular children and young people), businesses and the economy of Wales associated with the use of technology (including internet crime).

Too often the discussion of the digital environment concentrates on ways of protecting (especially young) people from danger rather than enabling everyone, of whatever age, social or economic background, both to access and understand the fullest variety and range of the advantages and opportunities available online.

The Digital Inclusion Action Plan positively redresses the balance in favour of that concentrating on the empowerment which digital inclusion can bring to individuals and communities.

February 2009