Ester van Laar

Ester van Laar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Communication Science at the University of Twente. Her research focuses on digital skills, internet appropriation barriers, creative industry workforce development, and social inclusion through technology. She leads projects on cross-national digital literacy assessment and policy design for marginalized groups.

Her work combines qualitative and quantitative methods, including longitudinal surveys and performance-based testing. Key contributions include the youth Digital Skills Indicator dataset and frameworks for evaluating digital competencies in education and professional settings.

Recent articles emphasize barriers to internet access among low-income households and the sequential development of 21st-century digital skills. She collaborates with social workers, policymakers, and industry leaders to bridge digital divides.

Van Laar’s datasets (e.g., on European youth digital skills) are openly available via Zenodo, supporting global research and policy initiatives.