The Scottish Funding Council announced a ¡ê5 million fund dedicated to bridging the digital divide through supporting colleges and universities to tackle digital exclusion among disadvantaged students. Alongside this fund, other funding includes ¡ê75 million to protect university research, ¡ê10 million for estates development, and early access to ¡ê11.4 million of higher education hardship funds. 'Investment in digital support is positive news for students across Scotland, particularly as we see a rise in the number of working-class students gaining a place in further and higher education this year, for whom the cost of learning is often the greatest,' said National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland president Matt Crilly.