Our research

Decorative

OTL is at the forefront of research in the digital economy, striving to challenge and reshape established norms and expectations. We believe in the power of digital technologies to create a world where everyone has equal opportunities to work, consume, and thrive. Our mission is not just to understand the digital economy, but to transform it fundamentally. We aim to dismantle barriers, challenge the status quo, and foster an environment where individual potential is not just recognised, but fully realised.

Here are some of the interrelated themes we follow:

  • The meaningful employment of people with disabilities by organisations, in STEM fields, or as entrepreneurs;
  • Closing the gap of socially disadvantaged women and stigmatised groups in employment and entrepreneurship;
  • Accelerating re-employment of vulnerable workers displaced by changes arising as Industry 4.0 evolves;
  • Narrowing the digital divide by broadening digital literacy across society and ensuring youth have work readiness and entrepreneurial skills relevant to the digital economy;
  • Critiquing, developing and evaluating digital tools that facilitate economic participation including ethical and legal implications.

Ethical, quality-assured research

Central to our research is ensuring that all underpinning pedagogy is identified and addressed during digital technology project design, development, delivery and evaluation.

We consider cognitive and social constructivism, experiential learning, metacognition, human factors management and guided reflection as core to ensuring that all engaged are exposed to new knowledge and activities in a safe, engaging environment.

We aim to challenge established developmental norms and expectations through educationally-driven information, practice, social, cultural and organisational change – via ethical research practices.