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Outcomes from the 2005 Conference on Higher Education, Information
Technology and Sustainable Development
Participants established partnerships and plans to help
countries achieve knowledge-driven growth through information and
communication technologies (ICT).
The conference generated concrete plans and fostered a corresponding community of practice that
spans the planet. Academics and practitioners from 15 countries in Asia, the Americas and Africa focused on converting isolated success stories into university-wide commitment to embedding ICT and development issues in the university ethos and its relevant programs.
Blogged on SIRC, the conference sparked collaborative projects, including development-oriented games, platform and content localization, curricula sharing and a special edition of
Information Technologies and International Development dedicated to this question. The group agreed to hold regional follow-up meetings and create a university ICT4D network.
Committees and action areas...
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Platform
and Content Localization
Local
context and capacity will determine the effectiveness and
sustainability of ICT4D initiatives. While many experiments in
localization exist, champions and networks can be supported.
How can the expanding community of practice best support
localization efforts?
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University-Telecenter
Partnership for Rural Development
Participants are linking universities and community
technology centers to support sustainable access for rural
populations. The partnerships match staff, technical and
content needs of telecenters with university expertise and
experiential learning opportunities for students.
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Curricula
Sharing
Syllabi and teaching resources are immediate, effective means of boosting university involvement in ICT4D. Creative approaches exist that spur cooperation among traditionally distinct departments. University curricula sharing can distribute innovation and multi-disciplinary cooperation essential to ICT4D.
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ICT and
Disaster Education
The South
Asian tsunami directly shaped the conference agenda.
Participants saw a significant role for universities to
develop and deliver educational programs related to disaster
preparedness and response. Planning is underway to
create a university network for ICT based disaster education.
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Development
Oriented Games
Games motivate people to use technology. Development oriented games use the "gaming" framework to teach important information regarding health, nutrition, literacy and other goals. Universities can help integrate the expertise of technologists and development practitioners to develop local capacity for relevant, educational and fun games.
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Special
University-ICT4D Issue of Information
Technologies for International Development
The editors of ITID are devoting a special issue next winter to the role of universities in ICT4D. The collection of articles will advance conference themes and raise the profile of university ICT initiatives worldwide.
A call for papers will be forthcoming..
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