Businesses, entrepreneurs and institutions from Gran Canaria responded to the ULPGC Social Council’s appeal to reduce the digital divide and address the health emergency which has forced this academic year to be concluded remotely.
The University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria’s Social Council has handed over 70 laptops to the Vice-rector of Students and Sports, in order for them to be distributed among those ULPGC students who are caught in the digital divide and require this considerable technological support in order to continue their learning remotely from home.
The donation of these laptops has been possible thanks to the funds raised by businesses, entrepreneurs and institutions from Gran Canaria who responded to the Social Council’s urgent appeal. It has allowed many ULPGC students, some of whom live outside Gran Canaria, to access laptops during these exceptional times which are suitable for having video conferences with their supervisors, accessing the various features of the ULPGC virtual campus, and establishing a secure internet connection.
At the conclusion of the state of alarm in Spain, these laptops will continue to form part of the ULPGC University Library’s resources, being integrated into the current laptop loan service.
The individuals and organisations who have participated in this public-private initiative are: the entrepreneur Alicia Martinón, the Fundación Sergio Alonso, the Grupo IFA Canarias, and German Suárez Investments. The ULPGC Social Council wishes to thank these individuals and organisations as their financial support made this social undertaking possible, minimising the digital divide for many university students in the Canary Islands. Likewise, the Social Council thanks the company Inerza for their collaboration in overseeing the logistics and the purchase of these laptops, which were expeditiously purchased at cost price.
For its part, the ULPGC Social Council has also contributed toward the donation of these laptops, earmarking some of its budget for this purpose.