College boosted by investment to help tackle digital poverty

DUMFRIES and Galloway College has taken a significant step forward in addressing digital poverty and empowering student innovation, thanks to a £50,000 investment from South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE).

The funding has enabled the further education institution to deliver a major upgrade to its wireless infrastructure and invest in a new range of modern laptops, boosting digital inclusion and enhancing learning opportunities for students across both the Dumfries and Stranraer campuses.

These devices will be available to students to support their learning, drive innovation projects and explore entrepreneurial ventures. By equipping learners with the tools they need to succeed, the college aims to foster confidence, creativity and develop skillsets that align with regional and national ambitions for economic growth.

At the same time, the upgraded Wi-Fi access points have significantly improved campus-wide connectivity, ensuring students will benefit from a digitally secure and reliable learning environment.

Kirstie Scrimgeour, entrepreneurship lead at SOSE, said: “SOSE is delighted to support Dumfries and Galloway College with this digital inclusion and entrepreneurial development project.

“This assistance came from our Pathways programme, which is a Scottish Government-funded pilot supporting the ambitions of new and under-represented founders across the South of Scotland.

“Pathways provided specialist coaching to 269 existing or prospective business founders across the South in 2024/2025 to help kick-start their business ideas and build business confidence.

“SOSE is continuing its efforts to work with all of our region’s colleges to deliver more entrepreneurial activity this year as part of the Pathways Programme.”

The investment is a key part of DGC’s broader strategy to unlock learner potential through inclusive digital access and foster a culture of innovation and enterprise.