communication4development

A fair go for all in the digital era: Towards a Digital Inclusion Roadmap

2011-11-20T23:40:00.001-08:00

From ‘Connecting Communities’ to theDigital Summit Dr Tim Williams has facilitated and harnessed a range ofviews to consider Australia’s digital future.

Respondingto this challenge Huawei, community sector partners Community Sector Banking,industry partners Australian Information Industry Association and webcastpartners Viocorp came together to sponsor and promote the first NationalDigital Inclusion Summit held in Parliament House, Canberra on 17 August 2011.

Thetwo main challenges set for the summit were: what is the challenge of digitalinclusion in Australia as the NBN arrives, and how can we overcome it?

A fair go for all in the digital era: Towards a Digital Inclusion Roadmap is the result of the NDIS have been compiled by Dr Williams andreleased by Huawei in November 2011.

It is heartening to see the passion andcommitment of those in attendance come through in the report. Here are somehighlights in relation to a social enterprise response.

There was a strong sense at the summit ofAustralia’s tradition of community activism and social enterprise needing tofind a new expression in this digital era – and optimism that it could do so.(p7)

A third intervention was more interestingstill and evoked the tradition of innovative social enterprise represented bythe not-for-profits at the summit. Participants wanted to explore the establishmentof a not-for-profit company – perhaps based on community housing providers andtheir tenants but potentially going beyond these – to provide internet accessfor disadvantaged and lower socio-economic groups. This could take the form ofnot-for-profits aggregating their purchasing power in some form of purchasingor procurement club to buy services more cost effectively from ISPs and indeedNBN Co. Another kind of purchasing club might also involve local governmentscoming together to purchase collectively from ISPs/NBN Co for their own uses ormore widely.

The context for these scenarios isaffordability of broadband as a potential barrier. Indeed, many pre- sent atthe Digital Inclusion Summit noted that affordability of internet services can playa significant role as a contributor to digital exclusion.

When communities do not like the servicesthey are offered, the spirit of the summit was this: they could take mattersinto their own hands. Imagine a com- munity ISP that offered full speed at thelowest entry-level price. It is possible and it would be transformational. Withthe tap turned on full across all plans, it would be different from other ISPsand open up innovation in a big way. What makes that possible is charging fortraffic; either per GB or according to the chosen data-cap as is most commontoday.

Social enterprise by not-for-profits whohave created enterprise-based solutions before can overcome much of the digitaldivide was the view of the summit, as long as they understand the opportunityof high speed broadband and what access to it means for their own operations aswell as in serving their client groups. (p10-11)

Key actions from the summit includethat NFPscollaborate on implementing the digital agenda and on potentially creating‘demand aggregation’ procurement clubs or social enterprises to enable theirorganisations and client groups to access lower cost internet services fromISPs or NBN Co.

“More important than any specific thing is a mindset. Away of thinking, an aspiration and a determination to create a digitally onespeed nation – a fast one – which leaves no community behind.” A final thought from theChair Dr Tim Williams

Speaking notes for NDIS

2011-08-19T15:15:00.000-07:00

NDIS: SocialEntrepreneurship: Corporate and Community Engagement

Prepared byKelly A Hutchinson 17 August 2011

I come from an association background and bring aninternational development and perspective and linkages and believe incollective action to support the ICT sector was a good way to contribute toeconomic and social development

As the roll out of broadband and uptake of ICT by thecommunity sector increases social enterprises will become new drivers ofeconomic growth providing opportunities for new models of business to bringbenefits to communities.

Today I’d like to provide a snapshot of this vibrant sectorthat has the potential to harness technology to deliver both business andsocial development goals.

This comes from my research into the gap between therhetoric of the ‘promise of e-business’ versus the dynamics of enactment andimpacts of ICT in practice in the social enterprise sector.

I will give an overview of some of the issues andthen give examples and then hopefully bring it all together to show how throughtechnology social impact can be achieved.

[DIAGRAM slide]

A lot of activities in Australia that may not atfirst appear to intersect but when you put a framework overlay you can see thenexus between social entrepreneurship and ICT for development

I’ve always been interested to see how technology canassist the delivery of service and increase impact of social mission, lead meto research the area.

Based in the developing economies of Southeast Asia Iwas working on projects across the region that gave me an opportunity to see anunfolding landscape where technological and social innovation addressed longstanding as well as new issues.

I know Cambodia may seem an odd place to talk aboutwhen we're here considering digital inclusion in an Australian context butsurprisingly there are a lot of similarities

CommunityDevelopment [slide]

Regardless of OECD rankings there are stilldisenfranchised, marginalized, excluded and underprivileged people who canbenefit from being connected

Remote communities of artisansthat require support to get their products to market.
Agricultural cooperatives thatwish to connect with others to identify what they can learn and share
Micro enterprises that have anidea that they need mentoring to get off the ground

International development and community developmentare similar in that they seek to address common issues whether it’s a remotehill tribe in Vietnam or an indigenous community in the Kimberly.

Local communities that cannot connect and participatein the larger and increasingly global Online communityare becoming increasingly marginalized because of that. So where Urbandevelopment with its focus on buildings andphysical infrastructure was once viewed as a primary path forward to communitydevelopment, development of computer and online infrastructure and access, andthe community enablement they support have to become central areas of focusmoving forward.

ICT for Development [slide]

ICTD as an area of research and practice can inform alot of what we will need to do in Australia to ensure the digital divide doesnot increase as the NBN rolls out.

According to a recent Finnish study

From ICTtowards information society - Policy strategies and concepts for employing ICTfor reducing poverty (Hannes Toivanen)

Regions, countries, organizations, communities andpeople differ greatly in their capacity to create, adopt and use newtechnology. Economic, social, cultural and technological factors determine to agreat degree how people can access and shape new technologies and theirapplications. These varying factors are well identified in literature ondevelopment of ICT in Sub-Saharan Africa, but less attention has been given tohow hierarchically organized ICT ecosystem, consisting of technological,economic and social elements, shapes these opportunities. So there is stillwork to be done in this area

Corporate Social Responsibility [slide]

AIIA and industry shows a keen engagement and there isdefinitely more to be done

Social Enterprise [slide]

Creating new business models

Social enterprises generate revenue to support their socialmission, as well as providing employment for often marginalised people.

Social enterprises do business with an explicit socialmission–helping poor and marginalized people to participate in sustainablebusiness opportunities. For these groups, social enterprises can be an importantsource of jobs, income, training, business mentoring, and technical input.

Measuring Social Impact [slide]

Social enterprises, like all development programs,have direct as well as indirect impacts.

Social enterprise impact measurements andcorresponding indicators. These were adapted to identify the outcomes(benefits) of ICT to social enterprises and in particular to assess the impact(attributable to ICT) of social enterprises in the target community.

Intersectionof ICTD and SE [slide]

Within the frame of the dual mission we can see aunique opportunity for ICT to deliver benefits. My thesis stands that social enterprises provide aunique space. That through access ubiquitous high speed broadband Australia hasan opportunity to lead in the space of ICTD-SE.

Throughout my research I have to pursue a number ofareas of thought and let them coalesce to see where the gaps are and theopportunities that looking at the nexus of ICT and SE.

In Australia with the roll out of the NBN and thecurrent initiatives for digital hubs and digital enterprise within DBCDE itreminds me of initiatives when the Internet in it's basic form was identifiedin international development agencies to be a new form of connectivity that wasto become a basic human right.

This lead to initiatives to get people online andsome that come to mind that we can learn from today.

Community Information Centres Asia Foundation US for Cambodian elections

UNESCAP GMS eBusiness for SME

Now to theAustralian Context [slide]

The question that I had today was do I talk aboutCambodia this is where my initial research was conducted and I find it amazinglyrelevant to the Australian context where a number of factors are comingtogether.

These organizations all exist to support thedevelopment of the social enterprise sector and foster social innovation inAustralia. I know a few are represented today and I hope this is just abeginning of the conversation.

All these organizations utilize ICT in theiroperations and provide a mechanism for cooperation, engagement and networking,taking the first steps into an ICT enabled world and the next generation oftechnologies and business models that these entrepreneurs will develop inresponse to community needs.

What we’ve seen to date is incremental change thathas brought about change that social entrepreneurs are able to deliver but whatlies ahead will represent the most comprehensive change.

We are at a tipping point now with the exponentialincrease of user access to technology and the equality that broadband offers.We must harness the opportunity for equivalent growth in the reach and scope ofsocial entrepreneurs in the digital economy.

CONCLUSION [slide]

So how does this all fit in to Australia?

That's the challenging bit I will now try to pulltogether these seemingly disparate elements into the initial proposition.

That through access ubiquitous high speed broadbandAustralia has an opportunity to lead in the space of ICTD-SE.

We have an entrepreneurial spirit
We have a committed social sector
We have traditional issues thatneed new approaches to solve
We will have the infrastructure
We have government commitment toleverage the investment
We have your interest to ensurethat no one gets left behind

Thank you

________________

References:

communication4development

http://communication4dev.com/

Mapping theDynamics of Social Enterprises & ICTs in Cambodia

A study ofperception, use and benefit of ICT in development of the social enterprisespace. Thesis for Master of Business Kelly A Hutchinson

2007 RMITUniversity. Kelly Hutchinson

http://adt.lib.rmit.edu.au/adt/public/adt-VIT20080213.144134/index.html

From ICT towards information society

Policy strategies and concepts foremploying ICT for reducing poverty Hannes Toivanen

http://www.vtt.fi/inf/pdf/workingpapers/2011/W158.pdf

NDIS: Social Entrepreneurship: Corporate and Community Engagement

2011-08-17T22:47:00.000-07:00

The NationalDigital Inclusion Summit was a unique event and I was delighted to be part of the and share my perspective on social entrepreneurship. In a somewhat truncated time-slot I presented some but not all of my slides below and mostly ran through my notes which are also now available online for reference.

I put forward a provocativeproposition that I still seek to deliver:

ThatAustralia has an opportunity to lead in the space of social entrepreneurship inthe global digital economy.
Throughubiquitous high speed broadband, active corporate and community engagement wecan deliver sustainable socio-economic outcomes for all.

Anyone seeking further engagement please contact me via this blog or twitter: kelhutchinson

Prepared by Kelly A Hutchinson 17 August 2011

National Digital Inclusion Summit

2011-07-14T04:22:00.000-07:00

17 August 2011 Parliament House, Canberra, Australia

Digital Inclusion: let’s be sure no one gets left behind

The Summit aims to educate and inform key decision and policy makers by highlighting both deficiencies and best case practices within Australia, in a forum from which key recommendations can be drawn to further pursue the goal of not just building a network, but a ‘networked society’.

Inclusion (in-clu-sion) • noun

The act of including; the state of being included, something that is included Eg: social inclusion – the provision of certain rights to all individuals and groups in society, such as employment, adequate housing, health care, education and training, etc.

Why? In February 2011 Huawei launched Connecting Communities a groundbreaking review of the community benefits and innovation enabled by broadband in the UK and the policy implications for Australia. Compiled by Dr Tim Williams, Connecting Communities is based on a wealth of case-studies, interviews and analysis combined with a sharp personal insight. The report offers compelling real-life evidence of the impact of broadband – on public services, democratic activity, and on communities themselves.

It was at this launch that Huawei announced it would host a Digital Inclusion Summit to further explore the objective of not just building a network but a ‘networked society’.

Senator Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy and Malcolm Turnbull, Shadow Minister for Communications and Broadband both confirmed their participation in the Summit and whilst not yet confirmed, the date has been included in the Prime Ministers diary.

At the conclusion of the Summit and following on from his groundbreaking report, Connecting Communities: the impact of broadband on communities in the UK and its implications for Australia, Dr Tim Williams will be producing a report and roadmap of the outcomes of the Summit.

Hosted by: Huawei Technologies (Australia) Pty Ltd
Community Partner: Community Sector Banking
Industry Partner: Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA)

Mapping the dynamics of social enterprise and ICTs in Cambodia: a study of perception, use and benefit of ICT in development of the social enterprise

2010-05-11T16:47:00.000-07:00

My Masters of Business thesis is available online as part of the Australasian Digital Thesis Program

http://adt.lib.rmit.edu.au/adt/public/adt-VIT20080213.144134/index.html

ICTD2009 Doha

2009-04-19T03:38:00.000-07:00

Mapping the Dynamics of Social Enterprises & ICTs in Cambodia

A study of perception, use and benefit of ICT in development of the social enterprise space

ICTD 2009 Doha 17-19 April 2009
SESSION 3A: ENTERPRISE AND CAPABILITIES
Kelly Hutchinson, Australian Information Industry Association
Alemayehu Molla, School of Business Information Technology
RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia

www.ictd2009.org

Vital Wave Consulting Arrives in Cambodia

2007-05-09T22:49:00.000-07:00

Vital Wave Consulting enables accelerated revenue growth in emerging markets through strategic consulting, market research and business intelligence.

Kelly Hutchinson joined Vital Wave Consulting in 2007, bringing expertise in Southeast Asian private sector development, relevant ICT solutions, social entrepreneurship, community information centers and rural development. As the Regional Expert for Southeast Asia Kelly coordinates a team of local researchers to undertake VWC's projects in the region.

Most recently Kelly coordinated the Cambodia research for the upcoming report on
How to Increase Consumer PC Revenues in 12-24 Months: Strategies for Capturing Incremental Near-term PC Markets in Developing Countries which provides comprehensive data and analysis for business managers focusing on revenue growth in emerging markets.

For more on Vital Wave Consulting visit
http://vitalwave.blogspot.com/

2007-03-14T08:53:00.000-07:00

How about the Social Apprentice?

I was interested by a comment on SSE 'what the movement really wants is an equivalent on TV...the Social Apprentice' on http://socialentrepreneurs.typepad.com/the_school_for_social_ent/2007/03/dragons_dont_un.html

Cambodian TV has recently aired a program the "Youth Leadership Challenge," modeled on The Apprentice. The Cambodian version tests young leaders each week on various techniques for constructively engaging the government and citizens on good governance issues. For more see...Using Television to Develop Youth Leadership Skills http://phnompenh.usembassy.gov/usaid_tv_show.html

Whilst slightly different in content the show deals with social issues and engages young people to care about their community. Going one step further could be to focus on social entrepreneurship as you suggested.

Cambodia is unique with 50% of the population under the age of 25 with unemployment an ever increasing reality. I firmly believe innovative programs that support the social entrepreneurial spirit of young people are much needed to address social development issues though business activities.

There have been many donor supported alternative solutions for development challenges. Acknowledging the benefit of social enterprises has lead agencies such as UNDP to support the work of Digital Divide Data http://www.un.org.kh/undp/ict4dtoolkit/default.htm

Perhaps an alternate format would be to have the next "Youth Leadership Challenge" place teams in various social enterprises and really combine the social and business agenda. That would be interesting to watch!

KI Media: Cambodian Rain Gamblers Call On Weather Websites To Up Ante

2007-01-19T03:14:00.000-08:00

KI Media: Cambodian Rain Gamblers Call On Weather Websites To Up Ante

Pilot project targets SMEs for e-business development

2007-01-19T02:55:00.000-08:00

Pilot project targets SMEs for e-business development

THE Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry is implementing a pilot project aimed at enhancing the e-business development of small and medium-sized enterprises...

The project was initiated by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia-Pacific and the Greater Mekong Sub-region Business Forum in January in collaboration with business organisations in the six GMS countries...

...A background paper prepared by Ms Kelly Hutchinson, an ESCAP consultant, for those attending the stakeholder consultations, said the GMS countries had a large number of SMEs, which accounted for most of the businesses in their economies.

The paper said the main objective of the project was to develop the capacity of enterprise support agencies and business development services to enhance the e-business development of SMEs.

Ms Hutchinson defined e-business as the conduct of business on the internet, which was not only buying and selling but also servicing customers and collaborating with business partners.

http://www.myanmar.com/myanmartimes/MyanmarTimes14-267/n013.htm

Evaluations of a Unique ICT Development Project in Cambodia: Provincial Business e-Learning

2006-02-20T01:42:00.000-08:00

Evaluation: Provincial Business Education through the Community Information Centers (CIC)

Evaluation Reports prepared by consultant Kelly Hutchinson for the Asia Foundation, 2005.

Evaluation: Provincial Business Education through the Community Information Centers Project

Evaluation conducted by SilkRoad Cambodia for the Asia Foundation 2005. The goal of this assessment was to determine the extent and nature of the program's impact on the students, institutions,involved in implementing the project, and broader eduction sector in Cambodia.

Evaluation Round 2: Provincial Business Education through the Community Information

Centers Project Second Round Evaluation conducted by SilkRoad Cambodia for the Asia Foundation 2005. The assessment built on the previous assessment of the impact of the eLearning Project on the students, IIC, CICs and Cambodia's educational sector in general. The evaluation focuses on the documentation of any changes/improvements that have resulted from Project activities and adjustments since Round 1 Evaluations.

DOT-COMments eNewsletter Articles:
A Unique ICT Development Project in Cambodia: Provincial Business e-Learning
From Issue 14: December 2005

iiA Journal 2005!

2005-08-12T05:05:00.000-07:00

iiA Journal 2005!

Here it's the link to the gallery:
http://www3.sympatico.ca/epicentre.org/

and here it's direcly to the web site:
http://www.er.uqam.ca/nobel/m220470/accueil.html

for the last 2 years I've been involved in a global online journal posting my thoughts along with some other expatriates living abroad. It has been an interesting experience and I hope you will check it out.

The iiA Journal had a reccord of frequentation on the web site for this time of the year in the Épicentre galery and their art critic will write a text about the project in the web magazine Archée. This is so great and very interesting for the project!

Congratulation to Andrée Anne for her inspiration and hard work!

New dates for IT Association Workshop July 14 & 15, 2005

2005-06-26T22:15:00.000-07:00

IT Association Workshop is confirmed by USAid and WITSA
July 14 & 15, 2005. At the Sunway Hotel, Phnom Penh
For further information please contact me kelly@silkroadcambodia.com

ICT4D-Social Enterprise Toolkit

2005-04-02T19:30:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to announce that the ICT4D-Social Enterprise Toolkit is ready for you to visit @http://www.un.org.kh/undp/ict4dToolkit/default.htm

This Toolkit has been developed to showcase best practice through the lessons learned from Digital Divide Data or DDD. As the consultant for UNDP I conducted workshops with staff andmanagement in Phnom Penh, Lao PDR and Battambang were a great opportunity to discover the success of DDD.

Thank you to all who participated, hope you enjoy reading the results.

ITMA & WITSA

2005-04-02T19:28:00.000-08:00

ITMA SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION
The Information Technology Mentors Alliance (ITMA) was formed in 2002 when the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) and The World Information Technology and Services Alliance entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The goal of the ITMA Alliance is to improve the capacities of information and communications (ICT) trade associations in Africa and Asia Near East through a public/private alliances approach. To achieve the purposes of the MOU, USAID, ITAA and WITSA agreed to jointly cooperate on technical assistance, education, training, and mechanisms for association development and sustainability as well as develop programs for improving institutional linkages.

The unique blend of institutional strengthening, advocacy support, and specific issue training via the Alliance enables private sector organizations to expand the use of information and communications technologies and foster economic growth and development. The associations benefit directly from the knowledge and experience of Alliance mentors by obtaining a host of new tools for expanding member service offerings, enhancing their governance structures, and improving their financial management. The associations, in turn, drive the knowledge they gain into their member companies and ultimately into the business sector. In addition, the associations develop and maintain active advocacy programs promoting beneficial ICT policies and greater use of government ICT.

Member companies also benefit by gaining access to workforce development and technical certification programs, marketing expertise, and new avenues for achieving public policy objectives, all of which build a firm foundation for economic growth. Individual citizen’s benefit from greater access to new technologies and improved economies brought about by more productive business sectors.

ASIA NEAR EAST ACTIVITES

Since its inception in 2002, the ITMA program has delivered concrete benefits to private sector ICT organizations in five (5) countries (Bangladesh, Mongolia, Nepal, Philippines and Sri Lanka) in the Asia Near East region by equipping the organizations with critical knowledge and tools in several specific areas.

A. Association Development and Governance
ITMA delivers a workshop series designed for an environment without a private sector IT Association. ITMA leaders conduct exploratory workshops to identify the barriers that impede the achievement of companies’ business objectives. The workshops also highlight joint activities the private sector can undertake to focus on removing industry barriers. The other main component of the workshop focuses on association fundamentals, constitution and by-laws.
B. Association Strengthening and Public Policy & Advocacy
For environments where IT Associations exist, ITMA delivers a series of workshops designed to strengthen the association through strategic planning and advocacy exercises. ITMA has developed a strategic planning workshop comprised of a series of interactive exercises that will produce a draft strategic plan. The plan will serve as a “roadmap” for the association over the next three to five years. Additionally, the workshop will address the important role of advocacy in the development and growth of the association and the economic development of the private sector IT industry.

C. Association Marketing
The ITMA has developed a marketing workshop that will give corporate executives new skills in marketing and business development, which will directly expand ICT markets. Elements of the program include understanding the market, and defining market strategies, strategic communications, effective marketing, and ensuring customer satisfaction. A valuable service that associations can provide to their members is training on how to penetrate markets effectively

Within targeted economies facing challenges in sustaining their ICT sectors, the ITMA program brings private sector organizations together toward a shared vision. Further, it draws out creative ideas for generating new member services and new revenue sources, equips associations with knowledge and skills for making the regulatory climate more positive for business, and gives companies powerful tools for competing in the global marketplace.

Creating an IT Association in Cambodia

2005-04-02T19:26:00.000-08:00

I am writing to a few colleagues who have expressed interest in creating an IT Association in Cambodia. I hope to share further information as it comes to hand yet at this stage a workshop is scheduled on May 18 & 19.

The purpose is to lay the foundation for the creation of an IT Association in Cambodia. The first step in the process is to build consensus among the key information technology segments in the private sector of Cambodia. A goal of the workshop is to highlight the current environment of IT industry in Cambodia from a private sector perspective and assess the level of interest in working jointly to promote the industry as well as addressing issues/challenges. Additionally, the workshop will provide guidance on how to form, staff, organize and manage an association.

The program is the result of an alliance between USAID and the World Information Technology and Services Alliance. The goal of the alliance is to build and improve the capacity of information technology associations in Asia Near East and Africa. Further information see below or check out www.witsa.org.

George Newstrom, WITSA Chairman visited Cambodia in 2004 to see the interest in establishing an IT Association and the feedback was favorable. As a result of continued discussions USAID has agreed to fund this workshop. In the case of Cambodia, WITSA propose to conduct a workshop that establishes the interest and benefits of developing an IT association. Allen Miller, Sr. V.P. of WITSA and Tom Chesney of The Information Technology Mentors Alliance (ITMA) will conduct the workshop at a venue to be confirmed.

The workshop will have around 20 people from the following areas, IT Companies – hardware, software and services organizations, Computer Centers and ISPs with a mix of local and foreign IT professionals attending. It is private sector focused so no government representatives will be involved. It is a sector based business association which could have companies, schools, consultants and NGOs as members. This is what we shall meet and discuss of how the IT sector in Cambodian can benefit from such an association.

So if you’re interested please reply or if know of others who might be, please forward this email. Formal invitations will be issued once we have more of an idea of who’s interested in attending. Please respond so I can include you in the invitation list.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me. Email is best as I will be traveling much of April/May.

Re: [bytesforall_readers] Business Models, ICT & developing countries

2004-11-15T22:14:00.000-08:00

This is a post I sent to the bytesforall_readers@yahoogroups.com

To Joyojeet and all involved in this current discussion. As an academic and practitioner I am inspired to hear of the interest in developing resources for educating students in this field.

The concerns about what is appropriate content for courses on ICT and Development are valid but it is only through discussions such as these that we can start to develop a body of research and resources for such courses. Some thoughts I'd like to add include:

- the level of study (undergrad/postgrad/short course)
- whether the class is in a developed or developing country
- which faculty is the course located: IT, development studies, eBusiness, etc.
- possible ways to network students from both sides of the digital divide to foster research links (group projects/exchange programmes/email buddies)
- encouraging cross disciplinary approach to ensure vibrant, challenging research (as seen in the field of community informatics)
- ways of generating new case studies that reflect both ground-up and donor-driven experiences (see www.egov4dev.org for some excellent material by Richard Heeks)
- generating links between educational institutions and ICT enterprises in developing countries to develop research and employment opportunities.

For example the last point drives my current work in Cambodia. Its commonly accepted that the focus of ICT in developing countries is twofold: as an enabler for development or as a sector which provides employment and economic growth. Increasingly they feed each other as capacity builds local ICT service providers deliver ICT enabled development projects.

To this end our company has an internship program so graduate can put their skills into practice, some become programmers and others work in our IT-enabler call center. Our clients are both public and private sector. So whether we are developing a monitoring system for an NGO or conducting a customer satisfaction survey for a commercial client, we are using ICT in a developing county.

My PhD research is on SMEs use of ICT in Cambodia and is informed through my work as a consultant as well as my colleagues in the ICT services sector. I believe this melding of academic, commercial and development reflects the changing role ICTs play in developing countries. It is this mix of theory and practice that all educational programs need to balance which I support.

You may also be interested in Barbara Fillip's online 'ICTs for Developing Countries' which she runs as a USDA Graduate School e-learning class. Barbara uses a yahoo groups email as the discussion list for the course and it has been a useful foundation and forum for keeping abreast of issues in the field. The class participants have been from both developed and developing countries and I'm sure Barbara has some relevant feedback on her courses as to how these different students find the course.

cheers

Kelly Hutchinson
RMIT University, Australia
SilkRoad Cambodia
www.silkroadcambodia.com
www.communication4dev.blogspot.com

Original Post from Joyojeet

Partha>
I am co-teaching a course on ICT for Development / Digital Divide>issues, here in Berkeley, California. I'd be willing to share my>syllabus / class plans and throw it out for criticism (plenty!) if>anyone is interested. Please send me a personal email if interested and>I will attach the req. file. Here's the course description:
>>Thanks, Joyojeet

Welcome!

2004-11-11T19:01:00.000-08:00

Hi this is my first post on my first blog! Welcome.

I have decided to create this blog as a way to keep a track of my research and my work as they intersect.

I am currently working in Cambodia for a knowledge management and IT company, SilkRoad so please check out what we're doing at www.silkroadcambodia.com

I am also doing my PhD part-time with RMIT University, School of Business IT http://www.rmit.edu.au/BUS/BIT I was fortunate to receive a faculty scholarship for the last few years but now I'm part-time I'm self funding.

See you next time!