University ICT4D

What is the role of the university in supporting local and national efforts to harness ICT for socio-economic development? To date, most attention in the higher education sector has focused on distance learning, eLearning, and other efforts to enhance the learning experience and extend the reach of education to remote locations and non-traditional students.

This project examines a different and as yet under-appreciated opportunity for universities to play a central role in studying and teaching about ICT for development (ICT4D) and the broad societal changes that are accompanying the emergence of information societies around the world. The challenges and opportunities inherent in any socio-economic transition of this magnitude require the detached, analytical perspective that universities offer. And yet so few universities anywhere, but especially in the developing world where the need is greatest, effectively link their knowledge of information technology and human development to both understand the dynamics of ICT4D and ensure that these technologies support the developmental priorities of their communities.

Project Team

Chris Coward
Center for Internet Studies, University of Washington
ccoward@u.washington.edu

Raul Roman
Center for Internet Studies, University of Washington
rroman@u.washington.edu

Beth Kolko
Technical Communication, University of Washington

Colin Maclay
Berkman Center for Internet & Society, Harvard Law
cmaclay@cyber.law.harvard.edu

Royal Colle
Department of Communication, Cornell University
rdc4@cornell.edu

Activities

University ICT4D Conferences

Higher Education, Technology and Sustainable Development Conference
10-14 January 2005
Manila, Philippines

Building the ICT Capacity of African Universities for Promoting Development: The Institute of African Development Cornell University
19-21 November 2004
Ithaca, New York, USA

Universities: Taking a Leading Role in ICT-enabled Human Development
5-8 September 2004
Makerere University, Uganda

WSIS: The role of Universities in developing countries for national ICT development
10 December 2003
Geneva, Switzerland

Call for Papers

Special Issue of Information Technologies and International Development on the role of universities in supporting community ICT4D efforts. Abstracts are due 31 May 2005.

Games for ICT4D

Collaboration emerged from the Manila workshop to develop games with a social mission. Initial project developing HIV/AIDS educational game for cell phones that will be pilot tested in Rwanda and the Philippines

De La Salle University Internet Studies Program

University of Washington-De La Salle University grant to develop new courses, faculty research projects, and executive training programs for e-government.

Academic Papers and Resources

R.D. Colle. (2005). Building Developing Nations' Universities into the ICT4D Strategy: A Call for Action. Working paper for the UN ICT Task Force Eigth Meeting (Working Group 3), Dublin, April 13-15.
R.D. Colle. (2005). Building ICT4D Capacity in African Universities. International Journal of Education and Development using ICT. Vol. 1, No. 1.
R.D. Colle. (2004). An Approach to eReadiness and Universities. Unpublished working paper.
R. Roman & R.D. Colle. (2003). Content creation for ICT development projects: Integrating normative approaches and community demand. Information Technology for Development. 10, 85-94.

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