BU Research Blog

Funded by the EPSRC under the Digital Innovation for Development in Africa GCRF scheme, Digital Reading for Inclusivity, Versatility and Engagement (DRIVE) is one of 24 networks looking to maximise digital technologies to address development challenges including health, energy and accessibility to online resources.  Due to COVID, we have had to rethink some of our intended activities and we have faced a number of delays, but the project is now underway. Key partners include the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Chuka University and Worldreader, an NGO working across 46 countries to increase access to reading materials.

This is the fourth UKRI funded project on digital reading led by Professor Bronwen Thomas from the Faculty of Media and Communication. In addition to addressing many of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the project also aligns with BU’s SIAs through its focus on assistive technologies for reading.  Phil Wilkinson from FMC is one of the network members, and Charlie Hargood, Professor Wen Tang and Julie Kirkby (FST) and Isabella Rega (FMC) are on the project’s Advisory Group.

For more information about the project, please visit the project website , follow the project on Twitter (@DriveNetkenya) or visit the BU project page