Why Is Digital Inclusion Important?
According to the
National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), a U.S. nonprofit organization formed to help close digital
divides, “digital inclusion” refers to “the activities necessary to
ensure all individuals and communities have access and use of
Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)”.
United Nations
defines “digital inclusion” as “equitable, meaningful, and safe
access to use, lead, and design of digital technologies, services,
and associated opportunities for everyone, everywhere.”
Digital inclusion has many positive impacts. Access to digital
resources and developing skills using online tools and
internet-enabled hardware enhances a person’s chance of succeeding
in the modern world. Equipped with digital skills, an individual can
contribute unique viewpoints and express their talent through
technology, promoting innovation and creativity. In today’s world,
most jobs require digital skills which speaks for how digital
inclusion is crucial for more people to contribute to the economy.
People stay informed through internet access and are able to express
their opinions which promotes social cohesion. All these factors
facilitate sustainable development of our society and makes digital
inclusion critical.
ASUS Initiatives for Digital Inclusion
As a global tech company, ASUS has worked to enhance digital
inclusion worldwide since 2008. Our efforts were evident during the
recent pandemic when the demand for digital resources surged.
Taiwan
Taiwan is home to ASUS headquarters where many local digital
inclusion programs are supported by ASUS, such as the
Refurbished Computer and Digital Training Program. Laptops, phones, and other peripherals brought to ASUS service
centers to be discarded are refurbished by being fixed and loaded
with the latest software in this program. Extending the lifespan of
these discarded laptops and electronics reduces waste, and the
devices become crucial tools for students lacking digital resources.
ASUS also continuously works with the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign
Affairs to contribute to the ADOC (APEC Digital Opportunity Center),
an initiative raised by Taiwan to benefit all member countries of
the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) which is an economic
alliance consisting of 21 countries. Digital learning centers that
provide training for digital literacy are established in areas
lacking digital resources. Thanks to ASUS’s collaboration with ADOC,
talent and digital equality are cultivated through these projects.
For 14 years up until 2022, ASUS has helped 39 countries establish
digital opportunity centers. These digital opportunity centers
contain more than 500 computer classrooms equipped with more than
20,000 computers and tablets. To date, 550,000 people have benefited
from these centers supported by ASUS and this amount steadily
increases as our digital opportunity centers continue to operate.
Many ASUS volunteer programs include activities related to digital
inclusion. For example, in the i-Taiwan Digital Volunteer project
college students are encouraged to volunteer in rural areas to
promote technological education and provide support for teacher
shortages. In 2023 as countries gradually opened their boarders
after the pandemic, ASUS hosted 6 international volunteer crews
headed for various Asian countries to promote digital inclusion.
Digital learning centers were built from local materials, coding
competitions were held, and digital computer courses were introduced
to beneficiaries in these overseas volunteer projects. The
ASUS Foundation
also continues to host Digital Fun Learning Camps for ASUS employees
to help bridge digital divides domestically and overseas.
United States
In addition to making computer donations, establishing digital
learning centers, holding digital training programs, and deploying
international volunteer programs in the U.S. to fight for digital
equity, ASUS also partnered with Endless OS Foundation to provide
affordable hardware access from 2021 to 2022. Endless OS Foundation
is dedicated to enhancing accessibility to education, and their
Endless Laptop Program
currently operates in the United States, Mexico, and Guatemala.
People who do not have the financial resources or credit to purchase
laptops can get one for an initial payment of only $25 US dollars.
This “pay-as-you-go” program drastically reduces barriers of access
to digital resources. ASUS has distributed hundreds of
state-of-the-art ASUS laptops to people in need over the course of
supporting the program and has benefited many immigrants and
American Indian communities.
China
ASUS has
joined efforts with the China Association for Science and
Technology (CAST), the largest non-governmental scientific and technological
organization in China, to bring IT knowledge and hardware
innovations to rural areas since 2009. ASUS has conducted over
40,000 digital literacy courses across more than 5,000 villages in
33 cities from 2009 to 2022. Over 80 million people have benefited
from ASUS efforts to help people in China further develop digital
skills.
Vietnam
During the pandemic ASUS donated 35
ASUS BR110F laptops
to
VinaCapital Foundation (VCF), a non-governmental organisation founded in 2006 to promote
healthcare and education for minorities in Vietnam, to help children
in resource-lacking homes continue their studies online. ASUS also
donated 24 laptops, supported establishment of computer classrooms,
and helped with the setup of online courses in Vietnamese primary
schools through collaboration with the Taipei Economic and Cultural
Office in Vietnam during 2022.
The Fight for Digital Inclusion Continues
As technology advances and AI capabilities develops, promoting
digital inclusion will become more important than ever. Today,
approximately 20% of children worldwide are not digitally included,
and approximately 19 million people over the age of 16 experience
some form of digital poverty, according to the
Digital Poverty Alliance. In this environment, ASUS is committed to continuing to provide
internet-enabled devices, digital literacy training, and initiatives
to help close digital divides.
Sustaining an incredible future
is a primary goal for ASUS – one which we have taken action on for
almost 20 years. Click the link below to learn more about ASUS ESG
(Environmental, Social, and Governance) endeavors.
ASUS’s Sustainable Supply Chain