The NASP PhD program in Sociology and Methodology of Social Research (SOMET) is glad to announce the

SEMINAR

Digital Transformation and Educational Inequalities

Valentina Goglio
University of Turin and Collegio Carlo Alberto

27 May 2026, h. 10:00-12:00
Room 3D233

Campus Luigi Einaudi
University of Turin
Lungo Dora Siena, 100 - Turin

Abstract

This seminar examines the ongoing digital transformation of education and its broader social implications. It explores the evolution from early forms of platform-based education—such as Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)—to the more recent emergence of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in formal education and lifelong learning contexts. By situating these developments within a sociological framework, the seminar aims to critically assess how digital technologies reshape access to learning opportunities, the organization of knowledge, and the distribution of educational resources.

Particular attention will be devoted to the ways in which digital transformation both reproduces longstanding social inequalities and generates new forms of stratification. While digital platforms have often been associated with increased accessibility and democratization of education, empirical evidence suggests that participation and outcomes remain strongly patterned along socio-economic, institutional, and geographical lines. At the same time, the integration of AI-based tools introduces emerging dimensions of social risk, including issues related to algorithmic bias, differential digital competencies, and the reconfiguration of pedagogical practices.

Drawing on recent comparative and theoretical contributions, the seminar will discuss the role of platform education in shaping a "better-skilled" workforce, while questioning for whom these opportunities are effectively available. Overall, the session seeks to provide participants with conceptual tools to analyze the interplay between technological innovation and educational inequality in contemporary societies.