The extraordinary grant program Connecta UB receives 281 applications
A total of 281 students applied for the grants of the Connecta UB program, launched by the University of Barcelona to mitigate the digital gap and guarantee equal opportunities for all the students during this second semester, due to the suspension of face-to-face academic activities caused by the pandemic. The received applications have been distributed in three categories offered by Connecta UB: 161 students applied for the cession of temporary use of laptops; 72 asked for access to basic Internet and 48 asked for both options.
A total of 281 students applied for the grants of the Connecta UB program, launched by the University of Barcelona to mitigate the digital gap and guarantee equal opportunities for all the students during this second semester, due to the suspension of face-to-face academic activities caused by the pandemic. The received applications have been distributed in three categories offered by Connecta UB: 161 students applied for the cession of temporary use of laptops; 72 asked for access to basic Internet and 48 asked for both options.
There is a high percentage of women among the students who applied for the grants of Connecta UB: 73.3%. Most applications come from students of the metropolitan area of Barcelona (63%) and 34.52% are from the city of Barcelona.
The extraordinary call of Connecta UB grants is aimed at students with economic difficulties who do not have the necessary technological tools to continue with their online academic activities. In particular, this is aimed at the students of bachelor and master degrees of a UB-specific centre, provided that they have one of the following grants: general grant (Ministry), beca Equitat tram 1 (AGAUR), or BkUB (modality A).
The loan time of the equipment will end when the UB decides the situation of need reaches an end. The initial amount for the UB for this program is of 100,000 euros. Also, the call is open to collaboration from companies, institutions and particulars that wish to contribute, using crowdfunding, to the extension of the grants (bank account: ES17 2100 3642 1722 0016 2234; subject: “Programa Connecta UB”).